Katharine Poxleitner

Katharine (Schmitt) Poxleitner, age 86, of St. Anthony, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, passed peacefully in the early morning on Saturday, October 25, 2008 with her husband, children and grandchildren at her side.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, November 3 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony. Entombment will be at Seven Dolors Cemetery in Albany.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Seven Dolors gathering area in Albany and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony. Parish prayers will be at 4:30 p.m. followed by the Christian Mothers at 8:30 p.m. Sunday evening.

Katharine was born December 15, 1921 in Avon, Minnesota to Michael and Philamena (Kurtz) Schmitt. She and John were married September 14 in Avon and recently celebrated 65 years of marriage and together they lived a life of unconditional love, devotion and generosity toward one another and their family. Katharine poured her heart and soul into caring for her beloved family. Her tenderness of spirit, vitality and enthusiasm will be missed terribly by both friends and family. Her passing will leave this world a slightly less colorful place, but so much the better for her having journeyed beside us.An avid gardener, Katharine could be found, on even the most stifling of summer days lovingly tending her flowers and vegetables. Having had an exquisitely green thumb, the precisely preserved results of her labors still grace many of our cupboards. From within her spotless kitchen, she took great pleasure in preparing the earth's bounty. For many of us she provided not only sustenance, but a place and a purpose in breaking bread and giving thanks.If gardening and cooking were her passions, her grandchildren were the eternal loves of her life. She cared for them with a depth of emotion which only a grandmother can know. Her kitchen, like her heart, was never closed to the kids. From her exquisitely home-baked 'sweets' to her divinely-inspired ability to know exactly when someone at her table was finished eating to her final moments when she gave one, last kiss to all of the children in the room, her love was undeniable and felt by even the youngest of them.

Survivors include her husband, John Poxleitner of St. Anthony; daughters, Eileen Lahr of St. Cloud, Jean "Jeanie" Notsch of Avon, Darlene (Earl) Felling of Albany and Dee Lonn of Minneapolis. She is the grandmother of twelve, John and Jeffrey Lahr, Jonathan and Joel Notsch, Mark, Jim, Greg, Ben, and Priya Felling, Emily, Jack, and Gabi Lonn, and the great-grandmother of one, Ella Felling. She is also survived by her sister, Lucille (Art) Ley of Roscoe.

Katharine was preceded in death by her parents, Mike and Minnie Schmitt; sister, Eleanor Fischer; brothers, Mike, Carl and Herb Schmitt.

Serving as casket bearers will be Mark Felling, Jim Felling, Greg Felling, Ben Felling, Priya Felling, Emily Lonn, Jonathan Notsch, Joel Notsch and John Lahr. Cross bearer will be Gabi Lonn and scripture bearer will be Jack Lonn.

Memorials are preferred.