Novella Anne Meany, 85, of Rose Creek, Minnesota, passed away in her sleep on Dec. 23, 2017, in the comfort of her own home from complications of anemia. It was her wish to stop blood transfusions and medications in mid-December and simply die peacefully at the beloved family farm.

Novella Anne Castle was born May 28, 1932, in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, and graduated high school from Bethlehem Academy in Faribault, Minnesota. She then went to college in Winona, Minnesota, graduating from the College of Saint Teresa with a bachelor’s degree in education. It was during college that she met Marie (Ellis) Landherr, her dear friend who introduced Novella to John Meany at a Catholic dance in Albert Lea, Minnesota, shortly after she accepted her first teaching job in Austin, Minnesota. John and Novella’s courtship was quick, marrying on April 7, 1958, in Faribault after six months of dating.

Novella and John lived in Austin for a year before moving to the Meany family farmhouse in rural Rose Creek. Novella gave up her full-time teaching position with the upcoming birth of their first child, Paul, raising all six children on the family farm. When the youngest child, Beth, entered elementary school, Novella decided to re-enter the work world as a substitute teacher in the Rose Creek and Adams, Minnesota, area. She went on to teach for many years, filling in wherever needed, but preferred the assignments that placed her with kindergarteners and first grade students. Novella loved doting on children, often getting on the floor to play with them.

She excelled as a mother, pouring unconditional love and attention into her children and grandchildren. Forever the teacher, Novella instilled in children her lifelong love of reading with frequent trips to the library/bookmobile and nightly reading sessions. She also celebrated curiosity and often encouraged her kids to research subjects they were interested in, long before Google made it easy.

But most of all, Novella will be remembered for the endless joy she found in being a grandmother. She would drop anything to tend to the needs of her grandchildren, often traveling hundreds (if not thousands) of miles to be the best babysitter ever. All the grandchildren adored her, with memories of her playing countless rounds of cards with them.

John and Novella spent much of their retirement traveling across the United States in a Buick LeSabre packed to the gills with camping supplies. They traveled through all 50 states, seeking out national parks and visits with their out-of-state children, grandchildren and other relatives.

Novella had a strong Catholic faith and spent many years volunteering as a lector at St. Peter Catholic Church in Rose Creek. She enjoyed attending daily mass whenever possible and stopping for coffee with friends afterwards.

Novella is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, John; children, Brian (Peg) Meany, Lynne (Jeff) Warne, Ann (Tom) Bastian, and Beth (Kris) Jungels; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother, Jerry (Meg) Castle; sister-in-law, Mary Keys; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Elizabeth Castle; sister, Margaret Castle; sons, Paul and Mark; and grandsons, Brian and Alex Jungels.

Funeral services will be held in April.