Polly Fernette
Polly C. Fernette left this world on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, to a better place where she will no longer have her disabilities.
Polly was born June 14, 1972 (Flag Day—As Polly said, they put flags out because it is my birthday), to Jerry Fernette and Virginia Lochner at La Crosse Gundersen Hospital, where an accident occurred in the delivery room, causing her disease, cerebral palsy. Polly had to experience many different approaches in special education from age 2 to 21, through Infant Stimulation La Crosse, Day Activity Center Winona, Minn., Early Education Winona, Mainstreaming Worthington, Minn. to her high school education in Hastings, Minn., and finally vocational training at Dakato County Vocational School, Rosemount, Minn. Polly was part of a team working through ProAct, Inc., Hastings at Treasure Island Casino in Red Wing, Minn., where she met her special friend, Arnold Pommering. Living in Prairie du Chien, Polly worked at the Opportunity Center until her disease progressed so she could no longer work. Even with all the changes asked of her, she was a happy person. She loved music from Barry Manilow to New Kids on the Block and Billy Ray Cyrus to Elvis Presley. She loved the Minnesota State Fair, country-western concerts and eating out. She loved going to Jones' Black Angus and giving Steve Jones a hard time, and in return, Steve gave her a Jagermeister hat, which she refused to take off. Polly was the first in the family with a disability, yet for her grandparents and family ,there was no disability. Polly was expected to live as society rules dictated and she did. She made her first communion, she was confirmed, she was a bridesmaid, she went to proms, she obtained a high school diploma, she met Billy Ray Cyrus and shook his hand. When the disease aged Polly, she lost all her achieved abilities; she could no longer talk, walk or eat. Polly worked so hard to develop her skills and to have them disappear is a sadness for her and her family.
Polly is survived by her mother; her sister, Jill Fernette; aunt, Sandra Rodenkirch; cousins, Tina (John) Osterhaus, Bill (Deanna) Rodenkirch, Kandi Burmiester, Michael Schoeffel, Mike (Becky) Fernette, Mark (Kris) Fernettte, Michelle (Randy) Check, Wendy (Duane) Moran, Mary (Jeff) Petersen, Linda Buss, Tom Benish, Judy (Pat) Heller, Ed (Pam) Benish, Mary (Roger) Timko, Laurie Qunitero; and the Lochner family.
Polly was preceded in death by her father; stepfather, Michael Lochner; grandparents, Paul and Eunice Rodenkirch and Louis and Virginia Fernette; uncle and aunts, Bill Rodenkirch, Ruthann Therring, Ray and Delores Benish, Bun and Ginny Lou White, Mike Fernette, Norma Adney Fernette Bloyer, and Shirley and Pat Fernette; and special friend, Arnold Pommering.
A memorial gathering for Polly will beSunday, Jan. 16, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Garrity Funeral Home Chapel with burial at a later date in the Calvary Cemetery, both in Prairie du Chien. A luncheon will follow the memorial gathering at Jones’ Black Angus in Prairie du Chien. The family would like to thank Pat at the Lori Knapp State Street House and Melody and staff at the Lori Knapp Parkview House for the care and support given Polly while she lived in Prairie du Chien.
