Tena Marie Ward

Tena Marie Ward, 55, of Topeka, passed away on December 17, 2011 at Stormont-Vail Hospital surrounded by her family. She was born in Topeka, Kansas on February 8, 1956 the daughter of Raymond and Mildred (McKellips) Ward. Tena worked in Customer Service for various companies. She was a member of the Women of the Moose and a former member of the Trinity Baptist Church. She loved spending time with her grandchildren. Tena also enjoyed gardening, painting, crafts, watching TV and her computer. She was preceded in death by her companion of 26 years, Edwin Bennett on August 13, 2006, her parents, and a sister Iva Jane Mueller. Tena is survived by her four children, Jammie (Alisha Spurlock) Smith, Terri Smith, Christen (Jerad Wyatt) Smith, Amber (Steven Bouton) Smith all of Topeka, 12 grandchildren; Tramayne, Xavier, Jasmine, Joseph, Cristen, Machaela, Jennifer, Corrie, Maryanna, Malik, Wyatt and Jaderia, a great granddaughter on the way, Brittany. She is also survived by her two sisters, Coleen Ickard of Mesa, AZ and Karen (Glenn) Fontaine of Ft. Worth, TX. Tena will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Wednesday after 2:00 p.m. where the family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Services will be held on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Cremation will follow. Memorial contributions may be made to Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home to assist her family with expenses. Online condolences and fond memories may be left at www.brennanmathenafh.com.