Carolyn M. O’Brien, 76 of Kearney died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at her home.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Prince of Peace Catholic Church with the Rev. Paul Colling officiating. Burial will follow at Kearney Cemetery.

Visitation will be 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday at the church, with a rosary/prayer service beginning at 7 p.m.

O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Carolyn was born Jan. 29, 1943, in Geneva, to Louis and Ann (Kamler) Budler.

She grew up on the family farm near Fairmont and was the oldest of five children.

Carolyn graduated from Fairmont High School as valedictorian in 1960 and in 1964 graduated from Kearney State College with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Secondary Education.

She married Maurice O’Brien on June 10, 1963, at St. Helena’s Catholic Church in Grafton. They had six children, Loretta, Michael, Timothy, Leticia, Katrina and Matthew.

Carolyn began her career with a math teaching position at the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kearney where she worked for three years.

She continued to teach math at the junior and senior high school levels for 20 years in Kearney, York, Fairmont, McCook and Lexington including 10 years at St. Ann’s High School and three years at Lexington High School.

She then served for 20 years as the office manager for Dawson County Parent Child Center in Lexington before retiring in 2011.

She and Maurice have resided in Kearney since 2001. Besides keeping up with activities for her grandchildren, she has a lifetime of service for the Catholic Church through various committees, CEC, bible study groups and altar society. She was a member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Ann Budler; nephews, Chris Lorenz and Andy Budler; and sister-in-law, Sharon Budler.

Survivors include her husband, Maurice O’Brien; their children, Lori and husband John Snyder of Valley; Mike and wife Patrese of Kearney, Tim and wife Lauren of Kearney, Ticia and husband Craig Niemeier of Worms, Kate and husband Dan Bodmann of Omaha, and Matt of Omaha; sister, Barb and husband Bill Lorenz; brothers, Larry Budler, Jim and wife Doni Budler, and John and wife Linda Budler; 14 grandchildren, three step-granddaughters, two great-grandchildren, and 7 great step-grandchildren.

Memorials are suggested to the KCHS Foundation, American Cancer Society or to Prince of Peace Catholic Church.