Cecelia Ahern

Cecilia Ackerman Ahern, 87, Red Wing died Friday, at St. Brigid?s at Hi-Park . She was born April 30, 1918 in Thief River Falls, Minn, the daughter of Louis and Mae (Ressler) Ackerman. She spent most of her childhood and young adult years in Farmington, Minn where she met her husband and developed lifelong friendships. She graduated from Farmington High School. In the late 1930?s she graduated from St. Paul Business College and went to work for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in Arden Hills. She went on to marry Irishman Andrew Ahern in 1943. They moved to Red Wing and started a business and family. Together they owned and operated Andy?s Bar for over 30 years with Cecilia serving as Chief Financial Officer. For a woman of her time, Ceil had many eclectic interests including watercolor painting, golf and a keen eye for fashion. She was an active member of St. Joseph?s Parish, regularly attended bible study and was one of the first lay communion distributors. Her family will fondly remember her as an avid reader, a great cook and a really good Catholic. Survivors include her children: Anne (C. Richard) Anderson of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Michael (Sharon) Ahern of Sunfish Lake, Minnesota, Mary (Richard Bonlender) Ahern of Minneapolis and Thomas (Janelle) Ahern of Red Wing; seven grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Andrew; one son, Patrick, her brothers, James and Vern Ackerman and her sister, Mildred Ackerman. Mass of the Resurrection will be 12 noon Wednesday at the Church of Saint Joseph with Father Thomas M. Kommers officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 p.m.to 8 pm with an 8 p.m. prayer service on Tuesday at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and on Wednesday for one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to the Red Wing Public Library or Fairview Red Wing Hospice.