Tamra Ann Rovney

Tamra Ann Rovney, 50, of Mankato, died of cancer on October 9, 2019, in Mayo hospice care at Benedictine Care Center in St. Peter, MN. Born October 17, 1968 in Mankato, Tamra was the daughter of James and Carolyn (Scheurer) Rovney.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary (2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato) with visitation one hour before the service. Rev. Dr. Rita Capezzi and Rev. Karna Marks will officiate.

Tamra’s brave journey with cancer began in late April, just days after she had been promoted to Director of Human Services in Sibley County, where she had served as a social worker and manager for twenty-three years. Tamra was a graduate of Loyola High School in 1987 and Moorhead State University in 1991. During her summers in college she worked at MRCI in Mankato.

Tamra served for twelve years on the Mankato City Council where she was a leader for human rights for all people. She enjoyed her work on the Council and was proud of Mankato’s progress during those years and after. She devoted much time to the city and viewed that time as a great personal growth, service, and leadership opportunity. In the same spirit, she served as a volunteer for the YMCA’s Big Sister Program, having many fun outings and adventures with her young friends over an extended period of time, something she very much enjoyed. She is fondly remembered for having a particularly generous spirit, with friends both young and old.

Tamra was especially blessed with supportive family, friends, and co-workers. Especially her dear friend Karna (husband, Steve), whom she met in college, and Karna’s daughter and Tamra’s god-daughter, Karolina (fiancé, Joey), were special people in Tamra’s life who kept her able to smile, including on the day she went with them to pick out Karolina’s wedding dress.

Others include, Tamra’s good friend, Gina Bastien of Anchorage, AK kept Tamra entertained with calls and fly in visits, holding her close in hospital stays and finally in hospice with her warm and loving face-time presence, even throughout Tamra’s last days. And her travel friend Lorein flew in from California to be with Tamra and help her as she began hospice.

Also, Tamra’s long time special friend and companion, Christopher Olson, with whom Tamra shared eleven wonderful years, gave her loving care and support in her last months and her last days, as did his daughters, Samantha and Molly, who were very special to Tamra. If there was any silver lining in the tragedy of Tamra’s illness, it was in the generous outpouring of love that came together and lifted her up – a richness of friends, near and far, old and new.

Finally, her co-workers at Sibley County also deserve special mention as they offered loving and positive support and appreciation for her, including adding to her extensive art collection with a beautiful, treasured memento designed by them. She deeply regretted not having the chance to have more time with them.

Tamra is survived by her parents, Jim and Connie Rovney; brother, Christopher Rovney and his wife, Ann Wolfe; many aunts and uncles and cousins on both the Scheurer and Rovney sides. She was preceded in death by her infant sister, Paula Michelle; her grandparents; and aunts and uncles.

The family would like to thank Mayo Hospice as well as the kind and caring staff at Benedictine Care Center.

Memorials are preferred to Vine, ECHO, Mayo Hospice, or donor’s choice.