A memorial service for Opal “Lu” Stanley will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Chapel, Albert Lea location. The Rev. Dwight Netzer will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at a later date.

Opal “Lu” was born in Kansas City, Kan., on Sept. 14, 1929, to Clarence and Opal (Nicholson) Hutson. Lu attended school and graduated high school from Kansas City. After high school, Lu worked for Northwestern Bell Phone Co. She was united in marriage to Henry J Stanley on June 15, 1951. To this union, four children were born.

After marriage, the couple moved to Albert Lea. Lu worked for the hospital as a Nurse’s Aide for more than 30 years. She also worked for various food service jobs. Lu was a caregiver by nature. Her life revolved around her children and grandchildren. Aside from work, Lu enjoyed baking cookies and bars, gardening and watching and listening to the birds. Lu was a very feisty and opinionated person, but also a person with great moral integrity and a strong work ethic. She was courageous, generous and kind.

Opal “Lu” Stanley died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, surrounded by family. She was 84. Opal made the choice to help in the advancement of medical research by donating her body to the Anatomy Department at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Opal is preceded in death by her husband, Henry J Stanley; parents Clarence and Opal Hutson; a granddaughter Brooke Edwards; and two sisters, Wanda Arasmith and Jenny Hutson.

Opal leaves behind her children Randy (Dee) Stanley, Saundra (Jim) Finseth, Jean Edwards and Corky (Trish) Stanley; grandchildren Brady (Carson) Stanley, Finesse (Angel) Luna, Maria Stanley, Jayna Finseth, Nicole Edwards, Blake Edwards, Ben Edwards, Dakota Edwards, Trey Flores, Parker Stanley and Samantha Stanley; as well as many great-grandchildren and other nieces, nephews and relatives.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Just Like Home Place or the American Lung Association.

The family of Lu would like to extend a sincere thank you to the wonderful people at Just Like Home Place and Mayo Community Hospice for their exceptional care and compassion. They were family to Lu, even when they didn’t have to be.