Luanne Marie Momenee

Our beloved mom and grandma, Luanne “Lu” Momenee (Mack), 87, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2025, after three years with Frontotemporal dementia. While it was difficult to see her live with the illness, her warm smile and bright eyes remained until the end.

Born on September 2, 1937, to Louis and Mary Mack (O’Neil) in Toledo, Lu embraced a life full of adventure, always seeking out moments of joy. In 1959, Luanne graduated from Mary Manse College where she made many lifelong friends, including her best friend, Anne Vander Hooven. Lu loved her friends like family and enjoyed traveling, going out to dinner, and laughing with them all.

In 1960, Luanne married the love of her life Joseph “Joe” Momenee. They navigated life together with a sense of humor, affection, and the more than occasional Manhattan. Together they raised Mike, Chris, and Mary, and as a family they often traveled the country, with a first stop for lunch typically less than 15 minutes from home.

Later, she thoroughly loved spending time with her five grandchildren, but instead of teaching them how to bake cookies, Lu would treat them to a nice dinner. They all learned how to navigate an upscale restaurant early in life. Each Halloween, she would hand-sew costumes that were so creative they would always take the first prize. Her grandkids agree she was the best grandma in every way.

Luanne’s passion for learning and teaching inspired so many in the Toledo area, as she taught at St Ursula, St Agnes, Blessed Sacrament, and Central Catholic. After her teaching career, she spent many years as the Director of the Learning Enhancement Center at the University of Toledo, where she touched the lives of innumerable people until her retirement in 2013. As an ambassador for UT, she was blessed to travel to Hungary, Ireland, and Africa, which she treasured as highlights of her career. While on these trips, she made life-long friends, some of whom returned to Toledo to stay with her for extended periods.

Throughout her life, Luanne was involved in the community, volunteering with and supporting local organizations like Bethany House and The Ability Center. She also enjoyed playing bridge in multiple card clubs and going to dinner weekly with her Tuesday Night Group. Luanne had a magnetic personality, never met a stranger, and always invited everyone to join her in a fun time. Luanne cherished relationships with others, and everyone valued time spent with her.

Luanne was preceded in death by her husband Joe of 43 years, brother Timothy Mack, and sister-in-law Jane Mack. She is survived by her brothers, David (Andrea) Mack and John (Constance) Mack: children, Michael (Alice) Momenee, Christine (Daniel) Cunningham, and Mary (Daniel Jr.) Maenle; grandchildren, Abigail Maenle, Madalyn Maenle, Kaitlyn (Ronen) Frank, Nicholas Momenee, and Grace Momenee; along with multiple nieces, nephews, and other cherished family.

The family would like to extend a deep-felt thank you to the staff of Otterbein Monclova and Ashanti Hospice who made her last years safe and comfortable.

Visitation will be held at Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home (501 Conant St. Maumee, Ohio 43537) on Thursday, January 9, 2025, from 3:30-7:30pm with a Scripture Service at 7pm. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 10:30am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (104 W. Broadway, Maumee, Ohio 43537), followed by interment at Resurrection Cemetery with a luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Luanne’s honor to the Northwest Ohio chapter of The Alzheimer's Association.

We ask that you honor Lu by raising a glass to toast her and making a new friend.