Gen Silkey

Gen Silkey, age 77, of Faribault, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at the District One Hospital in Faribault.             Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church (139 Mercy Drive) in Faribault. Interment will be at the Calvary Cemetery in Faribault.             Visitation will be at the church on Thursday from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.             In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Courage Center Camps, Gillette Children's Hospital, Poverello Fund at Mayo Clinic, or Emma Soderlund-Hartung Educational Fund.             Arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault.               Genevieve Marie Duchene, the daughter of Edward and Agnes (Nash) Duchene, was born on August 7, 1933 in Faribault. She attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Bethlehem Academy High School. She married Eugene Silkey on July 3, 1954 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Faribault. He preceded her in death on April 24, 2000. Gen worked for many years as office manager for Rice County Day Activity Center (DAC). She volunteered, organized and directed summer camps for MISSCA (Minnesota Society for Crippled Children and Adults), which later became Courage Foundation. Over the years, hundreds of children and adults with disabilities attended the camps at the Faribault Rotary Camp. In recognition of her work Gen received the Courage Center Ambassador Award. Together with her husband, Gen was a Rice County foster parent.             She is survived by her children, Kathleen Soderlund of St. Peter and Tom (Jean) Silkey of Faribault; six grandchildren, Mikaela Silkey, Emily Soderlund, Melvin Soderlund, Dominic (Rachel) Soderlund, Mary Soderlund, and Liam Soderlund; three great grandchildren, Kayla, Emma, and Jeremiah; sister, Loretta (Bernard) Sawyer of Faribault; and nephew, Mark Sawyer.             She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Silkey; and parents, Agnes and Edward Duchene.