She loved to sing, especially Gilbert and Sullivan songs while in the basement doing the family’s endless laundry, and often received compliments on her sweet soprano voice during hymns at Mass. Above all else, she hoped to be remembered as a peacemaker. She taught her children the importance of forgiveness and maintaining relationships. She lived out the egalitarian and social justice principles that she viewed as the foundation of her Catholic faith. Terese’s compassion and sense of justice extended to the world at large. She also recited the names of all of these loved ones every day in her morning prayers, so she would remember them all. Terese meticulously maintained a list of the birthdays and anniversaries of each of her children, grandchildren and their spouses (a cast of thousands) so she could mail a personalized card on each of these occasions. In fact, she would often help neighbors with simple plumbing problems, hanging pictures, or running errands. She remained fiercely independent, reluctant to relegate any household task. She was an intrepid traveler, going east and west for adventures and holidays well into her nineties. In her elder years, she continued to do her own banking and tax returns and became internet and cell phone proficient. She routinely repaired household appliances, even electrical wiring. Her ingenious budgets kept the family afloat through many difficult financial times. Terese was both mathematically and mechanically inclined.
She made it a point to know and cheerfully greet all her neighbors and fellow residents. She was an active participant in a Bible study group, a book group, and her local TOPS club, and she enjoyed every social activity offered in her communities. She spent countless hours caring for her grandchildren. After she retired, she volunteered at the school where her daughter taught and helped her husband Jack as he coached high school girls’ basketball. For many years she worked as a teacher’s aide in the Milwaukee Public Schools. Stephen parish in Milwaukee and later Lumen Christi parish in Mequon. Terese’s life was focused on other people. The remaining eight daughters and three sons, as well as Steve’s widow, Mary, all depended upon her for advice, humorous commentary, and unconditional support until the last hours of her life. She lost a newborn infant daughter, Mary Delphine, in 1953, and her beloved son Stephen in 2001. They married on June 21, 1947, and began a fruitful 67 year marriage that produced 13 children.
She briefly attended the University of Wisconsin on a scholarship before meeting Jack Neumann, a recent veteran of World War II who also attended the University. Bestowing love, wisdom, guidance, humor and grace until her last conscious moment, Terese Marie Neumann passed away on Februafter a brief illness.īorn on June 24, 1927, in Madison, Wisconsin as the eldest of three children of Frank and Mary Breunig, Terese graduated first in her class from Edgewood High School in Madison in 1945.
0 kommentar(er)
