Mariana I. Keene

obit template2018-11-29T12:10:12+00:00

Mariana I.
Keene

  • Memorial Visitation: Saturday, September 28, 2024 from 10 am – 11 am at ALL SAINT’S CATHEDRAL (818 E Juneau Ave. Milwaukee- corner of Juneau & Marshall)
  • Memorial Service: Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 11 am at ALL SAINT’S CATHEDRAL (818 E Juneau Ave. Milwaukee- corner of Juneau & Marshall)

Mariana I. Keene

Passed away peacefully on Friday, September 20, 2024. Beloved mother of Jonathan. Further survived by her sister, Kay Sanville, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Mariana was preceded in death by her parents, Laurel and Mariana Keene, and her youngest sister, Laurel.
Mariana was born October 6, 1937 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Laurel Zerbe Keene and Mariana Octavia Alenk-Briton. She attended Paw Paw, Michigan public schools, completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, and her Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois. She was a member of the Episcopal Order of the Sisters of the Holy Nativity in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin until 1979. After moving to California, she worked for many years as an editor at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishing Company in San Francisco. It was there that she adopted her son, Jonathan. Upon moving to Wisconsin, she was employed as an Administrator at the Medical College of Wisconsin in, successively, the Departments of Pharmacology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases. Mariana fulfilled another big dream when she got her horse, Missy in 2005. She enjoyed taking care of and riding Missy out at the stable where Mariana made many amazing friends. And Missy did the same.
She loved spending time with Missy and also enjoyed woodworking, quilting, and gardening.
Mariana will be remembered for her strong and independent soul.
Memorial visitation will take place on Saturday, September 28, 2024 from 10 am – 11 am at ALL SAINT’S CATHEDRAL (818 E Juneau Ave. Milwaukee- corner of Juneau & Marshall) with a memorial service to follow at 11 am.
HERITAGE FUNERAL HOME
1901 N Farwell Ave. Milwaukee, WI

3 Comments

  1. Christine Paul McGuirk September 26, 2024 at 10:51 am - Reply

    Keeping Jonathan in our family’s thoughts and prayers. I visited Sidra (as our family always called her) over the years when we both lived in San Francisco, then in Milwaukee, and always remembered how caring and generous she was – always thinking of others. When I first moved to Wisconsin, I stayed with Sidra and Jonathan while I looked for a place to live. She was so happy to have Jonathan in her life – what a blessing! After 9 years, I was sad to move from the Milwaukee area and lost touch with the only extended members of my father’s side of the family that I had known, but always kept Sidra and Jonathan in my prayers over the years and will continue to do so. Love always, Christine Paul McGuirk

  2. PATRICIA PAUL EL SHAREI September 27, 2024 at 9:45 am - Reply

    Jonathan. . . my son, Paul, and I will continue to keep you and Kay’s family in our prayers. Much love to all of you! Pat and Paul El Sharei

  3. Faith Carroll Avina December 11, 2024 at 10:00 pm - Reply

    Jonathan and Kay, I am just now hearing of Mariana’s passing and I am so very sorry to hear this news. Sister Mariana as I grew up knowing her was a dear friend of my mom, Julie Carroll. My mom and dad admired her compassion so much, that she became my godmother. I treasured her kind, gentle spirit. Sending love, Sincerely Faith Carroll Avina.

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