Edna Inez Rooney

November 30, 1934 - December 20, 2017

Racine – Edna Inez Rooney passed away peacefully in her sleep at Ridgewood Care Center in Racine on Tuesday morning, December 20, 2017. Mrs. Rooney was born in Luzerne, KY on November 30, 1934 to the late Dempsey and Alpha Oleta (nee Heltsley) McElvain. She was united in marriage to John “Jack” F. Rooney in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on July 7, 1956. She was a registered nurse, having worked at St. Catherine’s Hospital, Kenosha Memorial Hospital and numerous other local medical organizations. After retirement, she was an active member of the Belle City Clown Club, performing as “Mazy” and serving as secretary for a decade. She was also a member of Clowns of America International, Sweet Adelines Chorus, the Harmony Club, the Retired Inactive Nurses Group, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Red Hat Society, and the Scrabble Club. She was past President of the Shamrock Club, a charter member and past president of the Racine Yacht Club Auxiliary, Candy Stripe Chairperson with St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary, and a charter member and past vice president of the Racine Junior Woman’s Club, in addition to being a volunteer at the St. Steven’s food pantry. She enjoyed singing, sailing with her husband on their yacht “Banshee”, writing poetry, and entertaining around the holidays. Inez is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Martin (Kelly McBride) Rooney of Racine; two daughters and a son-in-law, Susan Rooney (Paul Harvey) of Racine and Peggy (Jon Woods) Rooney of Madison; five grandchildren: Jacob, Joseph and Anthony Rooney, and Maggie and Riley Woods; five great grandchildren: Abigail, Abraham, Elias, Kacyn, and Lincoln; one brother and sister-in-law, Larry (Kathleen) McElvain of Racine; two sisters, Lemma Jane Schowalter of Racine and Marcia Coyne of Norwich, CT; two brothers-in-law and their spouses, Richard (Avis) Rooney of Columbia, MO, and Jim (Nancy) Rooney of Racine. She was preceded in death by nineteen years and a day by her husband John, who passed away on December 19, 1998, and by other dear friends and relatives. Private services and internment will proceed at Calvary Cemetery.