03/20/2026
Rachel Kay Hennigan was welcomed into her eternal home on March 18, 2026, passing away peacefully after a long illness, surrounded by her family. Rachel was born to Odilia Seyler Lutkenhaus and Alexander Lutkenhaus on October 21,1939 in Gainesville, Texas.
Mass of Christian Burial for Rachel Hennigan, of Muenster will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, March 23, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Muenster. Interment is to follow at the Sacred Heart Cemetery. A Rosary and Vigil will be held at 6:00 PM on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Scott Funeral Home in Muenster.
Pallbearers will be Jordan Hess, Brandon Hess, Alex Nervo, Zachary Nervo, Ryan Hennigan, and Blake Hennigan. Honorary pallbearers will be Randy Hennigan, Dominic Nervo, and Brittany Hess.
She graduated from Saint Jo High School and later attended North Central Texas College in Gainesville. She grew up in Saint Jo and while working at the drive-in in Muenster, she met the love of her life, Arthur Hennigan. They were married on May 11, 1959.
Rachel and Arthur owned and operated Hennigan’s Bar, when they were first married. After that business venture, she was content being a homemaker for her family, while selling Stanley Home Products. Years later, she worked at the local nursing home and Weber Aircraft.
Shopping was one of her favorite pastimes. Rachel was often known to hide new clothes in the closet, thinking she would get into trouble for overbuying. Her daughter, Lisa, recalls the frequent stories, as told by Rachel’s husband. Rachel loved color and dressed up to the max, whether it was her makeup, clothes, jewelry, or hair accessories.
Rachel was treated to many vacations, visiting several states with her daughter, Donna. One of her sightseeing favorites was touring old, historic homes. She was in awe of the mountains and oceans that they viewed. She enjoyed experiencing new cuisines during those trips. Of course, she could not resist the temptation to buy souvenirs, especially jewelry. Her grandson, Alex, took her on her last trip, which was the Grand Canyon. Rachel always looked forward to the summer pool parties that her son Alfred hosted, enjoying the music, chit-chatting, and watching everyone swim.
Rachel was a hard worker. She tended to a huge garden and was efficient in “reaping” her harvest for canning or freezing. Her wild plum jelly was unmatched in flavor. She was also a wonderful cook. She loved cooking frog legs and fish that her husband brought home. She would host frog fries at midnight, after putting her children to bed. Despite her attempts at being quiet, her children would sneak out of bed and get in on eating the meal.
Rachel never met a stranger. She was everybody’s friend, often lending an ear to their problems or sharing stories. She had a one-of-a-kind personality, being able to get along with people and making them feel instantly comfortable. Rachel was known for her generosity to others. She never missed any of the birthday parties of her grandchildren. She was delighted to see their facial expressions, when they opened her lavish gifts. She always looked forward to getting a photo taken with the birthday honoree.
The holidays were the highlights of the year for Rachel. Every Easter, she requested her daughter, Donna, to cook her favorite meal, leg of lamb dinner. She delighted in gazing at the Easter Bunny cake, before it was sliced. Every year, she celebrated Halloween at the home of her daughter, Donna. She would sit in a chair outside, greeting the trick-or-treaters and commenting on their costumes. Rachel loved Christmas and all the hoopla and laughter that came with it. She just could not contain her excitement when everyone opened all their gifts at once.
Rachel was a thoughtful, giving, and loving wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, cousin, and friend. She was a likeable and a fun person to be around, known to her grandchildren and their friends as “Grandma Rachel.” Her laughter and her kindness will be missed by all. Long live the beauty that her soul expressed and may it live on in all of us as a testimonial and legacy of her.
Rachel is survived by her children Donna Hennigan, Lisa Hess and husband Darrell, and Alfred Hennigan and wife Paige; grandchildren Randy Hennigan and wife Hana, Ryan and Blake Hennigan, Jordan, Brandon, and Brittany Hess and Alex, Dominic, and Zachary Nervo, and great-granddaughter Harper June Hess and great-grandson Rune Arthur Hennigan, sister Linda Coursey and brother James Lutkenhaus and wife Joan, sisters-in-law Sandra Hennigan, Frances Ann Sicking and husband Victor, brothers-in-law Jerome Hennigan and Felix Pelzel and a host of other family and friends.
Rachel was preceded in death by her husband Arthur, her parents, mother-in-law and father-in-law Caroline and Fred Hennigan Sr, sister-in-law Joan Hennigan Pelzel, and brothers-in-law Fred Hennigan Jr. and wife Ethel, Larry Hennigan and wife Mary Lee, Donald Hennigan, and Robert Coursey.
