Catherine G. Wilson

CATHERINE G. WILSONOf Elburn, formerly of Sugar Grove, passed away peacefully at her home, early Wednesday morning, August 24, 2005. Her bed surrounded by her five children, their spouses and families, Catherine left this life listening to the sound of their singing and gentle whisper of their prayers. She was only 92 years and 300 days old; far short of her goal of 100 years plus one day. Having once heard "the first 100 years are the hardest, she prayed that the Lord would grant her one easy day after that first 100. Smiling through their tears, her family released her to heaven "a few years early" -perhaps a gift for good behavior. EARLY YEARS Catherine was born to this life, October 28, 1912 in Hampshire, IL. Her father was an Austrian born blacksmith and she was the seventh of nine children. When she was two weeks old, her family moved to Aurora where she attended Holy Angels grade school and graduated from West Aurora High School in 1930.MARRIAGE On September 19, 1934, she was united in marriage to Carter G. Wilson at Holy Angels Church, Aurora. They made their home in Sugar Grove where Carter began a portable feed milling business in 1935. Catherine, having kept books for both the Ford and Cadillac garages in Aurora, soon became the "cook and bookkeeper" behind Carter’s successful custom farm work. MEMBERSHIPS If her husband’s life was about his work, Catherine’s was all about her family and faith. Family gatherings and the holidays always featured an abundance of great food and good times that filled the hearts of her loved ones with fond memories. A member of St. Gall Church, Elburn, for many years, she was active in the Altar & Rosary Society and the overall life of her church. Catherine was also a member of the L.C.S.S., Ladies Home Bureau and the Sugar Grove Garden Club where her flowers took top honors at the Kane County Fair, many times.LIFE NOTES Catherine was an elegant lady who always looked great! From her cosmetics to coordinated nails and outfits, she carried herself with class and grace. Always positive and encouraging to others, Catherine enjoyed many friends and was adored by her loving family. Her beauty was more than "skin deep", however. Catherine’s faith, nurtured by a devoted prayer life that included daily rosaries and prayers to St. Jude, was the source of her true beauty and strength. For the past seven years, those daily prayers have been faithfully shared with her caregiver, Josephine Gora. Together they prayed especially for her dear friend, Fr. Richard Paddock and her great grandson, Gregory Wilson. Granted a clear mind to the end, Catherine never forgot the names of all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren for they were in her prayers every day. SURVIVORS Catherine will be remembered with love and a deep commitment to carry on her legacy of faith.She is survived by her five children and their families, including ___ grandchildren and ___ great grandchildren.Robert (Marjorie) Wilson of Geneva, IL, their family: Kathleen (Steve) Felt (and children: Brian, Katie and Alex)William (Lisa) Wilson (and children: Lindsey and Elizabeth)Charles (Debi) Wilson (and children: Michael, Jordan and Emily)John (Lee) Wilson (and children: Gregory, Molly, Megan and Teresa)Sharon (Don) Henderson of Sycamore, IL and their family:Jeffrey (Jeannette) Henderson (children: Adam, Nick and Alex)Jerolee (Don) Look (children: Ian, Max and Kyle)Kent (Debbie) Henderson (children: Zac and Jake)Dianne Rissman (Bill Mason) of Buena Vista, CO and Dianne’s family:Randall (Karen) Rissman (children: Lucy Dell)Dr. Steven Rissman, Susan Rissman and Robyn (Ian) Miller.Gary (Kathi) Wilson of Batavia and their family:Julie (Mark) Harrington (children:Emily and Benjamin)Karin (Scott) Herwick (and one on the way!),Molly (John ) Nelson (children: Andrew and Anna)Melodee (Michael) Probst of Elburn, IL and their family:Michelle (Dale) Merrill (children: Sydney and Austin)Alyson (Randall) Higgins (Children: Katherine and Elizabeth)And her beloved caregiver, Josephine Gora.PRECEDED The last of her generation, Catherine is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Theresia Marie (Schiesher) Greiter, her husband, Carter, eight brothers and sisters: George, Hilda, Carl, Pauline, Julia, Frank, Isabelle and Edward and one son-in-law Darryl Rissman.

VISITATION / FUNERAL Visitation will be held Sunday, August 28, 2005 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL from 2-6 pm with wake service at 2:30 pm. Fr. Karl Ganss pastor of St. Gall Church, will officiate.Visitation will continue at St. Gall Church Monday morning from 9:30am until 10:15 am. Mass will follow at 10:30 am. Former St. Gall pastor and friend, Fr. Richard Paddock will officiate and interment will conclude at Sugar Grove Cemetery, Merrill Rd., Sugar Grove, IL.

MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in her memory to benefit St. Gall Church and her favorite charities. Memorial gift checks may be made to the Catherine Wilson Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through www.conleycare.com.