ORANGE PARK, Fla. – Madonna Burns Hennette passed away peacefully of natural causes under the loving care of Hospice with part of her family in Orange Park, Fla. on March 24, 2022.
Madonna was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on January 9, 1928. She was the youngest of four children born to the late Mary Gurchiek Burns and John David Burns. She graduated in 1945 from Garfield High School in Terre Haute.
She was the first in her family to attend college, graduating in 1948 from Indiana State Teacher’s College, now known as Indiana State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. She was invited to join the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education. She then pursued graduate studies in the life sciences and was employed in the field of medical technology.
Upon her retirement from this profession, she pursued a career as an office manager for the dental practice of William Aitken, DDS in Terre Haute until moving to Tavares, Florida.
Madonna was a life member of the Indiana State Alumni Association, was a widowed member of Elks Lodge #86 in Terre Haute. She maintained an active lifestyle by walking, biking, golfing and bowling. She’s also made it her mission to keep her entire family as close and in touch with each other as possible despite the vast distances between them.
Madonna was predeceased by her parents; her husband, John; his two sisters, Leona Margaret Burns and Marie Eileen Seprodi; and his brother, John D. Burns, Jr.
She is survived by her three children, Dr. John D. Hennette (Cindy) of Greencastle, Indiana, Nancy Hennette Ellis of Orange Park, Florida and Richard Hennette (Dee) of Wichita, Kansas; five grandchildren, Kelsey Hennette Hill (Beau) of Brownsburg, Indiana and Jon Thornton Hennette of Whitestown, Indiana; Jonathon Ellis (Michelle) in Jacksonville, Florida; Elliott Hennette and Jay Hennette of Wichita, Kansas; and four great-grandchildren she had the pleasure of spending time with, twins Hadley and Huxley Hill; Brandon and Nathan Ellis. She also remained in close contact with her nieces Donna Seprodi Burt (Ed) and Diane Seprodi Robinson (Michael); as well as many other nieces and nephews, and good friends who brought joy and smiles into his life.
Madonna was once a longtime member of St. Mary’s Village Church at St. Mary-of-the-Woods in West Terre Haute, Indiana and was an active member of St. Mary of the Lakes in Eustis, Florida until his last move to Parc des Orangers. She enjoyed reading Masses in all of her parishes and was also a retired member of the ministry to the sick and the bereavement committee of St. Mary of the Lakes.
A service will be held June 18 at 2:30 p.m. at Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery in North Terre Haute where her cremated remains will be buried with her husband and members of the Burns family.
In lieu of flowers, she requested that memorials be made at the Carmelite Monastery, 59 Allendale Place, Terre Haute, IN 47802; St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church or St. Vincent de Paul Society located at the church, 218 Ocklawaha Ave., Eustis, FL 32726.
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