Patricia Jean Werdel
September 21, 2008
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Patricia ?Patty? Jean Werdel, 80 of Ree Heights, SD died Sunday Sept. 21, 2008 at the Prairie Good Samaritan Center in Miller under the watch of her loving family. Visitation will be Tuesday, September 23rd at St. Ann?s Catholic Church in Miller from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 pm. Rosary Service. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 24th at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Stephan, SD. Interment will be at the Cedar Cemetery, rural Ree Heights.
Patty was born July 19, 1928 to J.Q. and Gladys (Finnerty) Robbins in Redfield, SD. She was the oldest of four children. As a child, Patty?s family moved to Chamberlain where she spent her elementary years. As a high school girl she went to Mount Marty High School in Yankton. It was there that she met ?The Werdel Girls? who introduced her to their brother and her future husband, Pete Werdel.
Patty and Pete married on June 27th, 1946 in Pierre, SD. They moved to the family farm where they started their life together raising 12 children. Patty was active in the Catholic Church where she served as president of the altar society and religious educator for many years. She was a member of the Cedar Extension Club. Patty was an avid reader and artist.
Grandma had a gift of making everyone she met feel special. This ranged from a daily wave to ?the boys? in the tractors from her window by the table, a call to her girls, a hug for the kids, a card for every birthday or a snuggle for every new baby. Grandma had time for us all and her face lit up when her family and friends came in. She made her home warm and welcoming, bright and cozy, smelling of hot coffee and cookies with always room for one more. She was as happy to see the rebellious teenager as the baby.
She put her many health problems aside and chose to smile and focus on how someone else was. She chose to be the calm and happy one, the one with her arms wide open, waiting for just one more to come thru her door.
Survivors include: Pete, her husband of 62 years; twelve children and their spouses; Laura (Jerry) Heinz of St. Paul, MN, John (Lex) Werdel of Ree Heights, Ray (Lynn) Werdel of Ree Heights, Lee (Jeanne) Werdel of Clark, SD, Mary (Rich) Stuhlmacher of Malta, MT, Bill (Peggy) Werdel of Hurley, SD, Kay (Randy) Shepherd of Conrad, MT, Ed (Patti) Werdel of Ree Heights, Carol (Mark) Steichen of Alpena, SD, Gail (Todd) Christensen of Vermillion, SD, Jean (Tom) Hamiel, St. Lawrence, and Judy (Thom) Haley of Renner, SD; 49 grandchildren and 58 great grandchildren; two brothers Jack (Pat) Robbins and Joe (Carol) Robbins. Sister and brother-in-laws; Sister Marie Helene Werdel, Theresa Summerfon, Annabell Clausen, Leona (Rick) Yanta, and Art Schuster.
She was preceded in death by her parents J.Q. and Gladys Robbins; mother and father-in-law Elizabeth and John Werdel; one brother, Jim; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Loretta and Jr. Suhn, Marita Schuster, Bob Ricklick, Al Summerton, and Bob Clausen; one grandchild Francis Peter Werdel.
Patty was born July 19, 1928 to J.Q. and Gladys (Finnerty) Robbins in Redfield, SD. She was the oldest of four children. As a child, Patty?s family moved to Chamberlain where she spent her elementary years. As a high school girl she went to Mount Marty High School in Yankton. It was there that she met ?The Werdel Girls? who introduced her to their brother and her future husband, Pete Werdel.
Patty and Pete married on June 27th, 1946 in Pierre, SD. They moved to the family farm where they started their life together raising 12 children. Patty was active in the Catholic Church where she served as president of the altar society and religious educator for many years. She was a member of the Cedar Extension Club. Patty was an avid reader and artist.
Grandma had a gift of making everyone she met feel special. This ranged from a daily wave to ?the boys? in the tractors from her window by the table, a call to her girls, a hug for the kids, a card for every birthday or a snuggle for every new baby. Grandma had time for us all and her face lit up when her family and friends came in. She made her home warm and welcoming, bright and cozy, smelling of hot coffee and cookies with always room for one more. She was as happy to see the rebellious teenager as the baby.
She put her many health problems aside and chose to smile and focus on how someone else was. She chose to be the calm and happy one, the one with her arms wide open, waiting for just one more to come thru her door.
Survivors include: Pete, her husband of 62 years; twelve children and their spouses; Laura (Jerry) Heinz of St. Paul, MN, John (Lex) Werdel of Ree Heights, Ray (Lynn) Werdel of Ree Heights, Lee (Jeanne) Werdel of Clark, SD, Mary (Rich) Stuhlmacher of Malta, MT, Bill (Peggy) Werdel of Hurley, SD, Kay (Randy) Shepherd of Conrad, MT, Ed (Patti) Werdel of Ree Heights, Carol (Mark) Steichen of Alpena, SD, Gail (Todd) Christensen of Vermillion, SD, Jean (Tom) Hamiel, St. Lawrence, and Judy (Thom) Haley of Renner, SD; 49 grandchildren and 58 great grandchildren; two brothers Jack (Pat) Robbins and Joe (Carol) Robbins. Sister and brother-in-laws; Sister Marie Helene Werdel, Theresa Summerfon, Annabell Clausen, Leona (Rick) Yanta, and Art Schuster.
She was preceded in death by her parents J.Q. and Gladys Robbins; mother and father-in-law Elizabeth and John Werdel; one brother, Jim; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Loretta and Jr. Suhn, Marita Schuster, Bob Ricklick, Al Summerton, and Bob Clausen; one grandchild Francis Peter Werdel.
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