CROSS PLAINS-Rose Brenda (Rhoda) Bollig, age 85, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, February 5, 2010. Rhoda was born in Newry, Northern Ireland, on June 1, 1924, the daughter of Rose Barry and John McClelland. She was educated by the Convent of Mercy Sisters, at Our Lady's Secondary School in Newry and graduated from the Newry Technical School. Later on, Rhoda assisted her mother in their Ladies and Childrens store, and it was there that she met Coproral Robert J. Bollig of Mazomanie in 1943. When World War II ended, Robert returned to Newry, and he and Rhoda were married in the Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Colman in July 1945. In 1946 the Second Division returned to the U.S.A. from Europe, and Rhoda came here in April, on the U.S.S. Saturnia, with 1200 other G.I. brides. The Bolligs lived in Mazomanie for 30 years where they raised their family. Rhoda was a Licensed Practical Nurse having graduated from M.A.T.C. in 1972, and worked at Central Wisconsin Center for 25 years. She was one of the first Cross Pains E.M.T.'s and served for eight years, Secretary of the Council of Catholic Women for two years, and Historian for the Legion Auxiliary for nine years. She will be dearly missed by her children, Kevin (Annette), Sheila (Ed Helmke); John (Margie); Brian; Eileen (Dan Pauli); Shaun (Marty); and Susan (Peter Kemps); 19 grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren. She is further survived by brothers-in-law, Leonard (Delores) Bollig and Ray (Joyce) Bollig; sisters-in-law, Theresa, Ripp, Mary Haack, Katy Bollig and Beatrice Bollig. Rhoda was preceded in death by her husband Robert in 2005; her parents; two sisters, Maeve of Newry, Northern Ireland and Kathleen Downey of Connecticut; four brothers, John, Sam and Hugh of England and Jim of California; a sister-in-law, Katherine Kalscheur and four brothers-in-law, Ray Ripp, Walter Haack, Ed Bollig and Herb Bollig. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2947 Thinnes Street, Cross Plains with Father Thomas Kelley presiding. Burial will be in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Monday, February 8, 2010. Friends may also visit on Tuesday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at the church.
I had a Mother,
who prayed for me
Pleaded with the Lord
every day for me.
Oh, what a difference
it made in me
that I had a Mother
who prayed for me.
Some have kings
in their heritage,
mem to whom honor was paid
My noble ancestry was that
I had a Mother who prayed.
I had a Mother
who prayed for me
Pleaded with the Lord
every day for me.
Oh, what a difference
it made in me
that I had a mother who prayed.
Author Unknown