GALENA, Ill. - Thelma A. Hess, 91, of Galena, Ill., passed away surrounded by her family Aug. 24, 2007, after a short illness at the Mercy Medical Center, Dubuque, Iowa.
She was born Jan. 24, 1916, in Menominee, Ill., to Christian and Martina Hafner Hilby. On June 16, 1934, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Dubuque, she was united in marriage to John Hess, who died July 12, 1971.
She was a 1934 graduate of Immaculate Conception Academy, Dubuque. She enjoyed traveling and some of her greatest joys came in her travels and with her visits to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Surviving are 10 children: John (and wife Lou) Hess, Dubuque and Mesa, Ariz.; Mrs. Bob (Mary) Molitor, Las Vegas, Nev.; Frank (and wife Dottie) Hess, Clovis, Calif.; Paul (and wife Nancy) Hess, Arlington, Va.; Mike (and wife Joyce) Hess, Surprise, Ariz.; Larry (and wife Carmen) Hess, Athens, Ala.; Sandy Hess, Galena, Ill.; Mrs. Bob (Rose) Wilcox, Warsaw; Steven (and wife Carolina) Hess, Mar Vista, Calif.; and Mrs. Ron (Tammy) Zeller, Hazel Green, Wis.; 52 grandchildren; 79 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Irma Hess, Dubuque; a son-in-law, Dick (and wife Pat) Schildgen; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, James; two daughters, Pat Schildgen and Josephine in infancy; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two daughters-in-law, Jean Molitor Hess and Rita Mayhan Hess.
Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Galena. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling is from 1 to 8 p.m. today at Furlong Funeral Chapel, where a scripture wake service will be held at 1 p.m.
Memorials to the American Cancer Society in memory of Thelma.
