SHERRY NOVOTNY

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Sherry Kaye Novotny, who left us on April 29, 2025, in the presence of her daughter and grandchildren.  She was 76 years old.

Sherry was born on March 31, 1949, in Hendricks, MN. She was a beloved wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend whose kindness, generosity, and wonderful sense of humor touched the lives of everyone she met. One of her favorite memories as a child was when she and her brother found a dead snake, snuck up on their mother and dangled it between her and the newspaper she was reading. They didn’t intend for the tail to break and the snake to fall into their mom’s lap. When she left her parent’s home in Ivanhoe, MN at 18, she moved to the Twin Cities where she met and eventually married Edward Novotny. They lived in North Branch on a large farm where Sherry would often take her small daughter out in the tractor and allow her to drive or nap in the space behind the tractor seat. Later, they moved to Hinckley, MN and then closer to Mora, MN where they lived in a log home. Sherry transformed their yard into something that Better Homes and Gardens would have featured in their magazine. Her favorite holiday is Christmas, as evidenced by an insane collection of Santa dolls, Christmas ornaments and lights. She and Ed would decorate the house and yard, the glow could be seen for miles. Then her grandchildren arrived, and she spoiled them and loved them silly. They are her greatest pride and joy.

Sherry had various occupations during her life, but the one she loved the most was being a Certified Nursing Assistant at Kanabec County hospital. She would work in same day surgery and enjoyed helping to ease people’s anxiety and cheer them up. She received the greatest joy in her job was when she was able to work in the nursery caring for newborn infants and their mothers.

Sherry was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Maxine (Reiff) Heard; husband Edward Novotny; and brother Richard Heard

Sherry is survived by her daughter, Donelle Novotny; her granddaughter, Alexa Novotny and Alexa’s significant other Jake Robbins; her grandson, Kyle Novotny; her brothers, Jon (Kathy) Heard, Ron Heard, and Mike (Nancy) Heard; her sisters, Lynn (Mike) Carpenter, and Lu Ann (Dan) Blegen; as well as nieces, nephews and their families.

A Memorial Service will be held at 4:00 pm on Friday, May 9, 2025 at the Hamilton Funeral Homes - Akkerman Chapel in Mora.

Memorial Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service.

A Private Inurnment will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

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