Monica R. Richards

Monica R Richards, 92 of Ponca, NE. passed away June 21,2023. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Monday, June 26 at 11:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ponca, with Father Andrew Sohm officiating.  Burial will be at Southcreek Cemetery in Ponca. Mohr Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made to  www.meyerbrotherschapels.com.

Monica was born on February 19,1931 in Ponca, NE. to Thomas and Nora (Sullivan) Shanahan. She graduated from High School in1948 and went on to teach K-8 Country School for 3 years. She was united in marriage to Thomas H Richards on June, 26^th 1951. The couple farmed near Newcastle, NE. until 1960. They then moved to Southern California until 1968 when they moved to Ponca. She was a lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where she was a member of the alter society and a sacristan for 16 years. Monica loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed attending all of their sporting events and activities. She always made all of her grandkids feel like they were the most special one of all when they stopped to visit her and if you were lucky enough you got to leave with some of her homemade bread or brownies.

Those left to honor her memory include her children:  Mark (Vicki) Richards, Exira IA, Gary (Kari) Richards, Vermillion SD, Marcella (Rick) Schweers Ponca, NE, Susan (Blake) Bostwick, Ponca NE; daughter-in-law, Gayle Richards, Sioux City IA; 20 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild.

She is proceeded in death by her parents; husband Tom; son James Richards, daughter and son in law: Helen and Rick Jensen; brother, Michael Shanahan;  sisters and brothers in law: Bernadine and Ray Finnegan, Bernadette and Paul Day, Rudolph and Francis Hoesing, Vincent Richards, Harvey and Alice Wenther, Max and Marylou Martinsen.