Obituary of Cecelia A. Schaefer

Cecelia A. Schaefer, age 91, of Yankton, passed away Thursday evening, December 5, 2013 at the Avera Yankton Care Center, Yankton, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Monday, December 9, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, with Rev. Mark Lichter officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, SD. Visitations will begin at 5:00 PM, Sunday, December 8, 2013 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, with a rosary at 7:00 PM, followed by video tribute and then Scripture service at 7:30 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers are Grandsons: Neal Schaefer, David Koerner, Nathanael Schaefer, Greg Rybczynski, Eric Rybczynski, Matthew Schaefer. Cecelia was born on October 19, 1922 in Dimock, SD to Stephen and Margaret (Mayer) Brech. Cecelia married Victor Nickolas Schaefer on January 6, 1947 at Sacred Heart Church, Yankton, SD. She enjoyed being a homemaker, mother and wife of 10 children. Her baking skills were enjoyed by many, especially her bread, cookies and caramel rolls. For years she provided dinner buns for the Troop 180 smelt fry. Together with Victor they provided food for the family from their extra-large garden. She treasured time with her family especially playing cards and other games. In her later years, she looked forward to her time at the Senior Citizen Center playing bingo and pinochle. Her spirit lives on in those she loved here on Earth: son, Duane (Kathy) Schaefer and grandsons: Asa (Erica), Nathanael (Courtney), Matthew (Heidi) of Bemidji, MN; daughter, Karen (Fred) Rybczynski and grandsons, Greg (Jacquelyn) and Eric (Cory) Rybczynski of Broomfield, CO; daughter, Judy and grandson, Neal of Wakonda, SD; son, Ken (Pam) and granddaughter, Katie of Yankton, SD; daughter, Janice (Ken) Leise and granddaughters, Gail and Kendra of Norfolk, NE; son, Verlin (Kathleen) and granddaughters, Melody (David) Just and Sarah (Dan) Marostica of Scotsbluff, NE; daughter, Laurie (Ray) Koerner and grandson, David (Elizabeth) and granddaughters, Tiffany and Stephanie (Jared) Skarin of Yankton, SD; son, Rodney (Bev) and grandson, Aaron (Erin) Cundy of Gilette, WY; daughter, Gail (Ron) Maruska and grandson, Joe (Anna) and granddaughter, Ann (Doug) Sahr of Yankton, SD; sister, Elizabeth Gurney; sister-in-law, Jean Brech; as well as many cherished great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is home now with her God, as well as those loved ones who went before her: Her parents, Stephen and Margaret Brech, husband, Victor, son, Glen, sister, Susie Thomas, brothers: Sylvester, Vincent, Norbert, Lawrence, Arthur and Frederick Brech, and daughter-in-law, Donna Schaefer. Please direct any memorials to the Yankton Senior Citizen Center at The Center; 900 Whiting Drive, Yankton, SD 57078.