Theresa M. Fedie
Theresa MaryAnn (Bauer) Fedie passed away peacefully with family by her side at Mayo Clinic Health System-Luther Hospital in Eau Claire on Saturday, April 11, 2015. She was born October 12, 1924, the third child of Vince and Genevieve (Pichler) Bauer. She grew up in the Lima area and attended grade school at Sacred Heart School, completing eight grades in six years. She proudly earned her GED in 1986.
On May 4, 1943, she married the love of her life, Leonard Fedie. Together they farmed and raised a family of ten in rural Durand. When they could get away from the farm, they would take an occasional weekend trip to a resort in northern Wisconsin. For many years after they retired, they enjoyed spending a week every summer at Balsam Lake with their son, Jeff, and his family. During other trips, they spent time with family in Arizona, Massachusetts, Florida, South Dakota, Alabama, Maryland, New Jersey, California, and Canada.
Her hobbies included gardening, canning, crocheting and other handiwork, as well as playing cards and board games. At a young age, she learned how to play the organ by ear and enjoyed playing it for her own entertainment and that of the residents of Oakview Care Center for many years.
Theresa’s faith was very important to her, and singing with the Lima Polka Choir was another way of expressing her love of The Lord. She was a member of Holy Rosary Altar Society and was nominated for a Woman of Light Award from her parish.
Theresa was well known for the way she welcomed people into her home and into her life. She demonstrated her selflessness through blood donations to the American Red Cross and her membership activities with American Legion Auxiliary Unit 181-Durand.
Theresa is survived by nine of her children: Monica (Duane) Weiss of Norfolk, MA; Al (Carol) of Tucson, AZ; Jan (Dory) of Rice Lake, WI; Byron (Li) of Maple Grove, MN; Carolyn (Mark) Rutherford of Rice Lake, WI; Bill (Lois) of Durand, WI; Anita (Wayne) Patnode of Arkansaw, WI; Beth (Dennis) Smith of Elk Mound, WI; and Audrey (Rob) Jaenke of Eau Claire, WI; and daughter-in-law Marlene (Dennis) Zarling of Eau Galle, WI. She is further survived by 21 grandchildren, several step-grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include siblings Vince Bauer of Milton, WI; Leona (Norbert) Weinzirl of Eau Galle, WI; and Tom (Dorothy) Bauer of 29 Palms, CA; sisters-in-law Mary (Al) Bauer of California; Gertrude (Herman) Fedie of Mondovi, WI; and Juliana (Benedict) Fedie of Eau Galle, WI.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; her son Jeffrey; granddaughter Jennifer Weiss; siblings Rose (Lawrence) Anibas, Eleanor (Victor) Bauer, Francis (Gertrude), Galen J. (Arcella), and Al; and sister-in-law Pat (Shannon) Bauer.
Funeral Mass will be 11:00 AM Friday, April 17, 2015 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church-Lima rural Durand. Rev. Paul Bosco will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 PM Thursday at the Rhiel Funeral Home in Durand and one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.
Rhiel Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Durand, is serving the family.