Cecelia Bauer

Cecelia E. Bauer, age 89 of Melrose, died Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at the Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 24, 2008 at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vince Lieser officiating. Interment will be held in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 8 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Christian Mothers and Saints Bernard & Elizabeth Council will pray at 7 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Cecelia Bauer was born October 27, 1919 in Georgeville, Minnesota to Peter and Johanna (Gysberg) Stern. On September 6, 1941, she was united in marriage to Ervin M. Bauer in Paynesville and resided in Melrose all of her married life. She was employed at Jennie-O Foods for 28 years until her retirement in1984. On February 17, 2004 she moved into the Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany where she loved playing BINGO, cards, and visiting with the other residents. She was a member of Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Mothers and Saints Bernard & Elizabeth Council. She enjoyed watching television, especially her favorite game show, Wheel of Fortune.

Survivors include her children, Ervin, Jr. (Cecilia) Bauer of Melrose, Aloys Bauer of Sauk Rapids, Joann Gerads of Freeport, and Sylvester "Butch" (Kathy) Bauer of Melrose; 22 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; sisters, Jean Reigert of Rosemount, Anita Orbeck of Richmond, Eleanor (Pat) Gavin of St. Paul, Dorothy Eberle of Mesa, Arizona, Lorraine Oehlert of Starbuck, and Gertrude Clark of Burlington, Wisconsin.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin Bauer Sr. on February 8, 1975; son, Kenneth Bauer of September 12, 1989; an infant son; grandson, David; 1 great-granddaughter; brothers, Richard Stern, Alphonse Stern, and Donald Stern and son-in-law, Jerome Gerads.

Serving as casket bearers will be Rick Gerads, Bob Gerads, Chris Bauer, Joe Bauer, Jason Bauer, and Kevin Bauer. Cross bearer will be Melissa McKenzie and scripture bearer will be Lori Sprenger.