Corona "Coonie" Essner

 Corona Henrietta Bucher “Coonie” Essner, 93, passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Born Sept. 18, 1931, in New Hamburg, daughter of the late Philip and Leocadia Dirnberger Bucher, she graduated from Benton High School. Her life was marked by unwavering dedication to her faith, family and community, as she served in various capacities throughout her life.

On May 24, 1952, she married Leon Andrew Essner, who preceded her in death on Oct. 19, 1973. She worked as a secretary at the St. Lawrence Rectory in New Hamburg. In 1985, she moved from the family farm in New Hamburg to Cape Girardeau where she was an active member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation. She worked at Cape LaCroix Apartments in Cape Girardeau, retiring after 25 years. In 2009, she returned to New Hamburg, where she was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church and the St. Anne's Sodality. She also served as a teacher for the St. Lawrence Parish School of Religion and in the church choir. She brought the first Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) conference team to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, and she volunteered as a cook for many, many summers at Camp Re-NEW-all in Fredericktown, Missouri. Coonie was also active in the regional and Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the Oran KC-ettes. She enjoyed visiting friends in nursing homes, giving rides to those in need and making time for her ladies’ groups which included the New Hamburg Homemakers Club, her Cursillo group, Scott County Historical Society, Red Hat Society and her friend group which met regularly over the past 50 years to celebrate their birthdays. A member of the St. Francis Auxiliary, she also volunteered for 20 years in the gift shop at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2018. When she completed her last day of service on Feb. 18, 2020, she had volunteered over 4,000 hours.

Known affectionately as "Nana" to her grandchildren, Coonie cherished her family, creating lasting memories through card games and her famous homemade pumpkin bread, which her grandchildren looked forward to receiving every Christmas along with their nylon pot scrubbers. She was always up for any adventure and there to listen and lend a hand when needed.

Survivors include: two sons and a daughter-in-law, Kenny and Debbie Essner of Dexter, Missouri, and Tim Essner of New Hamburg; daughter-in-law, Carla Essner of New Hamburg; one sister, Zita Nenninger of Hazelwood, Missouri; nine grandchildren, Kim (Brian) Ziegler of Kelso, Missouri; Nicole (Brian) Egli of Keller, Texas; Dustin (Amy) Essner of New Hamburg; Kari (James) Wilhelm of Kelso; Kent Essner of Dexter; Leonna (Dean) Heuring of New Hamburg; Michelle (Andy) Silman of Benton; Andrea (Pete) Sampanis of Vienna, Virginia; and Lisa (Jim) Eftink of New Hamburg; 21 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one son, Andrew Essner; daughter-in-law, Jeanne Essner; grandson, Mark Essner; and her siblings, Raymond Bucher, Monsignor Philip Bucher, Susie Seyer, Josepha Reinagel, Marietta Vandermierden, Veronica Westrich and Germaine Bucher.

Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 31, 2025, at St. Lawrence Parish Center in New Hamburg. A rosary will be recited at 4 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg with the Rev. Daniel Belken, pastor, officiating.

Burial will follow in the St. Lawrence Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be her great-grandsons: Drew Silman, Colton Essner, Braden Egli, Drake Wilhelm, Griffin Wilhelm and Rolen Heuring.

Honorary pallbearer will be her great-grandson, Tristan Sampanis.

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Memorial contributions may be made to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation at glennon.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or stjude.org.