Hildegarde Marie O'Neil

Funeral Mass will be held Monday, August 26, 2013, 10:30 AM at St. Louis Catholic Church in Foreston, MN. Visitation Sunday, August 25 from 5-8 PM at Peterson-Johnson Funeral Chapel in Milaca, MN. Hildegarde Marie Brunn was born Aug. 22, 1916, (the 7th of 12 children) to Alexander Brunn and Mary Ann (Biederman) Brunn in Gilmanton Township, MN. She was baptized at St. John's Catholic Church, Foley, MN and confirmed in St. Louis Catholic Church, Foreston. MN. She attended elementary school in Oak Park, MN and graduated from Foley High School in 1934. She helped families with domestic and child care, including over four years for Dr. & Mrs C.J. Henry, Milaca. She was inducted on May 20, 1943 into W.A.V.E. (Women Accepted or Voluntary Emergency Services) during WWII. She was an operation room technician, working in hospitals and dispensaries, and achieved the rank of Pharmacist Mate Second Class. She served at the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, N.C., US Naval Hospital NTC in Bainbridge, Maryland, and US Naval Air Station in Edenton, N.C. She received an Honorable Discharge Nov. 22, 1945. On April 24, 1946, she married William B. O"Neil at St.Louis Catholic Church, Foreston, MN They made their home in Foreston and raised their six children. She lived in Foreston for 60 years until moving to Heritage Place Apartments, Foley, MN in July, 2006. In 2009 she moved to Riverside Assisted Living, Royalton, MN. In 2012 she moved to the Foley Nursing Center. She was active in Foreston Mothers' Club, Christian Mothers, Parish Council, 4-H Leader for 17 years, CCD teacher for 23 years, housework for pastors for 23 years; Foreston Senior Citizens, Election Board for 10 years; and a member of the Crosier Apostolate and American Legion #298, Foley, MN. After celebrating her 97th birthday with family she died a few hours later at the Foley Nursing Center with her hospice volunteer at her side. She is survived by her children and spouses, Basil (Shirley) O'Neil of Ramsey, Patrick (Annette) O'Neil of St. Cloud, Mary (Kevin) Hemmesch of Sauk Rapids, Colleen (Ronald) Woods of Cold Spring, MN; Cecilia (Anthony) Krystosek of Royalton, and Beverly (James) Olson of Kimball; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren and 7 step-great grandchildren; sister, Margaret (William) Roehl of Milaca and brother, James Brunn, Great Falls, MT; sisters-in-law Marceline Brunn, Plymouth, MN, Patricia O'Neil, Pierz, MN, and Anna O'Neil, Foley; brother-in-law, Richard Roehl of St. Cloud, many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, William on October 26, 2001, parents Alexander and Mary Brunn, sisters Agnes (Tom) Baron, Clara (Lawrence) Cadwell, Amelia (Joseph) Kolbinger, Laura (Norris) Freecheck, Catherine Roehl, Mary (Doyle) Tittle, brothers, Benedict, Francis and Leo (Joyce) Brunn, sister-in-law Fern Brunn, and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and an infant son Sept 1960.