Funeral this afternoon for teacher Edna Henshaw

HIGHLAND — Ridgeline Elementary fifth-grade teacher Edna Lee Henshaw, 57, is remembered by colleagues and students for her experience and dedication.

Ms. Henshaw, sister of Alpine School District Superintendent Vern Henshaw, died Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, from cancer.

Ms. Henshaw taught in the Jordan School District for 33 years, before retiring and taking a job at the new Ridgeline Elementary.

"She was fantastic," Ridgeline principal Ken Higgins said. "When she came to us from Jordan district, she helped us open Ridgeline. I cannot express enough appreciation for her experience she brought. My staff is pretty young."

Ms. Henshaw loved children others found difficult to supervise. Custodians loved her because her classroom was immaculate. Higgins teased her that she made him look bad because she stayed at school later than he.

When doctors diagnosed her cancer last spring, it was sudden and she went into surgery immediately. She couldn't say good-bye to students and many cried when they learned she would not return, Higgins said.

They made her a quilt and sent letters and cards. She was able to visit them once.

The students are now in the sixth grade, and Higgins helped teachers announce Ms. Henshaw's death.

"I was fine until I saw one of the girls look at me and you could just see her eyes getting teary," Higgins said. "And dead silence in the room. Then the tears started falling and it was the hardest thing I ever did in my life."

Funeral services are today at 1 p.m. at the Crescent Park 1st Ward, 11350 S. 1000 East.