Evelyn Welch

Evelyn Welch May 30, 1917 - June 20, 2009

Evelyn Marie (Armstrong) Welch, esteemed matriarch of her large and diverse family and long-time resident of Waseca and Mankato, embarked on her next adventure on Saturday, June 20, 2009 in Minneapolis, After a rich and long life--during which she wore each and every experience with hats, glamour, and classshe has gone on to join her beloved husband of 45 years, Robert V. Welch, who preceded her in death in 1983. Born May 30, 1917 to Joseph and Rose (Amberg) Armstrong, Evie graduated from John Ireland Catholic and Central High schools, St. Peter, Minnesota. And while living and working in Waseca, met the man-of-her-dreams, marrying Robert (Bob) Welch on February 6, 1937 at St. Peter''s Catholic Church in St. Peter. Together over the next 20 years, they built a life filled with an ever-growing family, church and community activism and volunteering, and a loving network of life-long friends. A volunteer in various community organizations and local schools, she was a longtime member of the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary, Catholic Daughters of America, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca. She was a loyal supporter of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago, the Christian Children''s Fund, Covenant House, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, American Heart Association, and St. Jude''s Research. Evelyn was a lover of life in all of its forms. Square dancing and riding carousels into her 80s, until she was felled by her first of three bouts with leukemia, she continued to sashay to the tune of dancing flowers until the very last moment. An avid bridge player who loved to entertain and truly believed that the party was never over. Sympathetic, understanding, and the first to lend a helping hand, she loved her peonies and roses, laughter, music, and old movies. She embraced every new experiencefrom the exotic to ruggedwith a sense of humor and adventure. She loved to travel, play Scrabble with her girls, and share her love of storytelling with every grandchild and young persongreat and small. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, June 23rd at 2:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Fr. Martin Schaefer officiating. Interment will be Wednesday, June 24th in the Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Visitation will be held on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at McRaith Funeral Home in Waseca, and will continue on Tuesday afternoon for one hour prior to services, at church. There will be a 4:30 Catholic Daughter Rosary, and a 7:00 p.m. parish prayer service Monday at the funeral home. She is survived by her children Robert (Bob) Welch,

Jr. Minneapolis, remembered great-great (Jerry) lives Armstrong, grandchildren: Roesch, Marideth Elizabeth of she Garrison, McCabe, Joe touched. Johnson Welch and grandchildren, Rosech, and and Brenda Barbara sisters dozens Gaytko. Terri forever Salgado, She Jeana Guzman, Armstrong Yvonne Welch was of in her nieces the Cottie Metzendorf, preceded sisters of Heilman hearts Cheryl Mankato, Welch and Lynn LaJune of nephews, in Roesch, Apodaca, and of her James death Minneapolis. Mary Delores 15 Hall by grandchildren, Diana Roesch, and Armstrong and Joshua her Ashcraft. many Rose husband Hogan, She Dean Zuehlke, other Welch Skramstad, also 31 Robert Johnson, Bob, Casket young will great-grandchildren, (Caren Zack her be J. people bearers brother Welch, long- Zangel, brother Mike Gaytko) Welch, whose Gerald Jr., will Cyril Mary of Scott be 16