Jeanne Nolden

Jeanne Marie (Dvorak) Nolden, 56, died on June 16, 2022, surrounded by family at home in Forest Lake, Minnesota. after a hard-fought battle with cancer. She is survived by her devoted husband of 33 years, Bruce; daughters, Nora (Michael Berken), Katie (Oliver) Moore, Allison and Margaret; granddaughter, Lucy Moore; mother, Betty (late Charles) Dvorak; siblings, Chuckie (Selene), Janet Dorrance, Carol, Liz (Kevin) Lyne, James and Patty (Joe Carbonara); mother-in-law, Joyce (late Robert) Nolden and brothers-in-law, Mark (Bonita), Scott (Laura) and Dale (Amanda) Nolden. She was a fun-loving aunt and cousin to many.

Jeanne grew up in North Riverside, Illinois. She was a smart, witty and good student at Riverside-Brookfield High School in Illinois and St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota, where she was the first female student body president and where she met her loving husband, Bruce. She obtained her master’s degree from the University of Minnesota. Jeanne was employed as an industrial hygienist at Metro Transit in the Twin Cities.

Known as “Beans” since early childhood, Jeanne lit up every room she walked into with her smile and her sass. She was the life of the party and always made sure everyone around her was having a good time - even if she had to force it out of them. She loved to embarrass her daughters, clapping along to the music in church and singing in her opera voice.

Jeanne’s proudest accomplishment was raising four daughters well. She was lucky enough to meet her first grandchild, Lucy Amelia Moore, born March 25, 2022, and has since requested 16 more grandkids.

Jeanne made everyone around her feel welcome. Many of her daughters’ friends have shared how she became a bonus mom to them and has always made them feel part of the family.

Jeanne was a founder of the annual “Cousins Camp” weekend, bringing together her siblings, nieces and nephews for a weekend of camping and adventure each year. She loved the great outdoors, often going on long drives through the country with her husband and finding a good trail to hike. An avid gardener, Jeanne took pride in her flowers and vegetables - taking up more and more of the yard each year. She enjoyed card games, country music and sunshine. She was an associate of Jeanne Jugan at Little Sisters of the Poor and spent many years volunteering with the Arc Alliance and Girl Scouts of America. She also would foster puppies from Secondhand Hounds.

A visitation for Jeanne will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, June 24, 2022, at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, Minnesota.  A rosary and prayer service will begin at 7:00 p.m., Friday at the funeral home.  We encourage you to wear Jeanne’s favorite color yellow to the visitation.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to mass at the church.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Saturday at The Church of Saint Peter, 1250 South Shore Drive, Forest Lake, Minnesota.  Interment at Calvary Cemetery, Forest Lake, Minnesota.   In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Little Sisters of the Poor, 330 Exchange Street South, St. Paul, Minn. 55102-2311.