Louise E. Desautel, 89, Albany

March 8, 1926 - April 6, 2015

Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Louise E. Desautel, age 89, of Albany, will be at 4:00 PM on Friday, April 10, 2015 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany. Fr. Brad Jenniges, OSB will officiate and burial will take place in parish cemetery. Louise died April 6, 2015 surrounded by her loved ones. There will be a visitation from 4:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at the Miller-Carlin Funeral Home in Albany and again after 3:00 PM Friday at the church. Parish prayers will be at 4:00 PM followed by Christian Mothers praying the rosary at 6:00 PM Thursday at the funeral home. Arrangements are being made with Miller-Carlin Funeral Home, Albany.

Louise Desautel was born in Buckman, MN to Matthew E. and Mary (Tetvia) Hesch March 8, 1926. She attended St. Michael elementary school in Buckman, MN, St. Francis high school in Little Falls, MN, and went on to earn her registered nurse degree at St. Francis hospital in Breckenridge, MN. With a strong love for travel she pursued her career at numerous hospitals including: Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, and Honolulu Hawaii. In these earlier days it was her lifelong friend and co-worker who joined her on many of these travels, Helen Schmolke of Houston, TX. Returning from Hawaii Louise found herself working at a hospital in Crookston, MN and it was there she met the love of her life and would go on to start her family. Louise married James George Desautel (from Crookston, MN) on August 27, 1955 at St. Michaels church in Buckman, MN. Louise and James settled in Albany, MN to raise their family. Louise retired from her nursing career and pursued other business ventures including “Big J” citizen band radio sales (a joint venture with her husband) and a distributorship in New Era cookware through which Louise’s entrepreneurial talents would find her door to door selling her products. Louise’s husband died suddenly on June 27, 1978 (age 48). Louise spent her remaining years in Albany, MN with a strong dedication to her children, community, and church. She was actively involved as a member in the Mother of Mercy Campus of Care auxiliary (Albany, MN), the VFW auxiliary (Melrose, MN), and the Boy Scout board of directors (Albany, MN), and she was past president of the Christian Mothers, American Legion auxiliary (Albany, MN). Louise maintained close relationships with many of the Franciscan nuns who would frequently join in at these gatherings.

Louise is survived by her six children Denise (Michael “Rocco” Theisen) Desautel, St. Cloud, MN; Paul Desautel, Baudette, MN: Peter (Janet Demarais) Desautel, Albany, MN; Jane (Michael “Monk”) Montgomery, St. Cloud, MN; Laurie Desautel, Lake Forest, CA; Harold (Angie) Desautel, Albany, MN; sisters Irene Kulig, Superior, WI; Laura Alkofer, Park River, ND; thirteen grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters and brothers-in-law Adeline (Bob) Dion, Mary (Ralph) Linville, Helen Hesch, and Dolores (Art) Eben, brothers-in-law Gene Kulig, Ray Alkofer, and sisters-in-law Harriet (Verne) Anderson and Jan Lee (Jim) DeLage.

Louise was remembered by many for her hats and earrings. Louise asked to be remembered as a woman of faith. A woman who loved and cared for her family’s well-being.

At Louise’s request, donations are preferred in lieu of flowers to the Poor Claire Nuns.