NEW HAMPTON - Catherine V. Wojcio, 86, New Hampton, formerly of Lake Worth, FL, died Saturday Aug. 3, 2002 at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, MN following complications of surgery in June.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7 at Holy Family Catholic Parish, St. Mary's Center, New Hampton with Rev. Carl Schmitt celebrating the mass. Her five nephews will place the pall upon the casket. Offertory gifts will be presented by Hannah and Jessica Achen and Kara Messersmith. Music will be provided by Ann Bennett as organist and the St. Mary's Choir.

Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, New Hampton. Pallbearers will be Bob, Mark and Andy Messersmith, Tom, Robert and Craig Achen. Honorary pallbearers are Lu Heintz, Anna Mary Carr, Ann "Whitnable, Irene Wessels, Helen Adams and Eileen Kennedy.

Visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 at Hugeback Funeral Home, New Hampton, where there was a 4 p.m. Rosary and 7 p.m. Scripture Service with a 7:30 p.m. Video Memorial Tribute.

Kay was born Jan. 14, 1916 in Glad Valley, SD, the daughter of Jacob and Rosa (Boeding) Achen. She attended grade school and junior high in Glad Valley, SD and graduated from Isabel High School, Isabel, SD in 1934. She entered nurses training at St. Mary's Hospital, Pierre, SD in 1937 and worked at St. Joseph's Hospital, New Hampton until 1940. She then moved to Chicago and worked at Illinois Central Hospital until she enlisted in the Army, Feb. 2, 1942. After Entrance Camp, Camp McCoy, WI, she became Lt. Achen. She served with the 216th General Hospital in England and the 120th Evac Hospital in Germany near Buchanwald. Kay set up a hospital for Buchan-wald inmates in April 1945. She retired from the Army an Jan. 1, 1946. Kay married Roy West in Chicago, 1L on Feb. 2, 1946. After returning to Chicago she attended graduate school to become a Registered Nurse Anesthetist. She became Staff Anesthetist at South Shore Hospital, Chicago, retiring to Hollywood, FL in 1963. She was called for Obstetrical Anesthesia at Memorial Hospital, Hollywood, FL from 1964 until retiring in 1978. Roy died Sept. 8, 1977. On April 21, 1979, Kay married Martin Wojcio in Lake Worth, FL. Martin died March 27, 1982. Kay moved to New Hampton in 1976 to be closer to her family. She resided a t Homestead Circle, where she enjoyed her many friends. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Parish, St. Mary's Center and Rosary Society, the New Hampton VFW Auxiliary, Catholic Daughters of the America's, Court Joan of Arc and several book clubs. She enjoyed her bridge and card clubs, traveling, reading and painting.

Survivors include a sister-in-law, Ellen Achen, Craw-fordsville; nieces and nephews, Barbara Hughes, Salinas, CA, Kathryn (Denis) Achen-Gar-cia, Acton, MA, Tom (Sherri) Achen, Lawler, Robert (Vickie) Achen, Wayland, Craig (Cindy) Achen, Sauk Center, MN, Mark Messersmith, Marina Del Ray) CA, Bob (Karen) Messersmith, New Hampton and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husbands, Rqy and Martin; brothers, Nick and Matt Achen; sisters, Minnie Achen and Veronica Messersmith; brother-in-law, Reuben Messersmith and nieces, Rosemary Achen-Elban and Rita Achen-Schueler.

Source: New Hampton Tribune; Aug.6, 2002 Page 4
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters