Obituary of Beryl June O'Brien

Beryl June O’Brien, nee Osmundson, age 99, peacefully passed away on August 30, 2023 just 2 months shy of her 100th birthday.  She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, her husband, Kenneth O’Brien, and her daughter, Erin O’Brien.

She is survived by her remaining five children:  Michael O’Brien (Suzi), Craig O’Brien, Nancy O’Brien Smemo, Kevin O’Brien (Sandra), and Molly Riley (Terry); twelve grandchildren: Sean O’Brien (Cambria Reed), Katie O’Brien Huszar, Christina Cornish (Erika Tommer), Kristoffer Smemo (Heather Berg), Molly Smemo (Abby Kaufman), Casey O’Brien (Tricia), Brady O’Brien (Jade), Shane O’Brien, Alexandra Scott (Will), Tucker Pavek (Sara Ordal), Carson Pavek (Nicole Zell), Hugh Riley, and Tess Riley; ten great-grandchildren with one on the way; nieces and nephews, especially Mary Langley (Walter); and sister-in-law, Deanna O’Brien.

Beryl was born November 1, 1923 to Simon and Bertha (Prytz) Osmundson in Elmore, MN.  She grew up in North Mankato, graduated from Mankato High School in 1941, and attended Mankato State Teachers College for three years.  She married Ken in 1944, and they made their home in Mankato, where they raised six children.  Beryl was an intelligent, warm and loving woman and delighted all who met her.  She was passionate about her husband “Kenny,” being a mother and grandmother, nurturing life-long friendships, working crossword puzzles (doing NY Times with a Bic Flair), reading mysteries, following women’s tennis and soccer, and baking her special chocolate chip cookies for the family.  Beryl was a wonderful role model by living a contented life with love, optimism, grace and dignity.  She gave her children the strength and courage to live their lives to the fullest. Thank you to Nine Mile Creek Senior Living in Bloomington for helping enrich her final years after Kenny.  There will be a Memorial Mass on Friday, September 15 at 11:00am at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 423 W. Seventh St., Mankato, MN 56001.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the North Mankato Public Library, where Beryl was an avid patron.