Obituary of Eulalia Pelster

EULALIA MARIE (SCHMITT) PELSTER Eulalia Marie Pelster entered into eternal life with her daughters at her side on August 23, 2012 at Devon Gables, Tucson, AZ. She was born on April 5, 1919 in Dalton, NE to the late Edith and Anton Schmitt. She was married for 45 years to the late Arthur James Pelster, the love of her life. Eulalia is survived by her daughters Judith A. Pelster (Tom Stafanek) and Janet L. Vall (Andrew) of Tucson, AZ, and Joette M. Pelster (Richard Kurtenbach of Kansas City, MO; granddaughters Nicole Glow (Thomas) of Phoenix, AZ and Elizabeth Mosley (James) of Tucson, AZ; and five great grandchildren, Katherine, Henry and Lucy Glow, Parker and Adele Mosley. She is also survived by her dear brother and two sisters, Sylvester Schmitt, Ithaca, NY, Eileen Reinhardt (Ralph), Pueblo, CO and Charlotte Lavalleur), Sidney, NE and numerous nieces and nephews. She was the 1982 Nebraska Mother of the Year. This honor brought her much pride and was a highlight in her life. Eulalia was preceded in death by her parents Edith and Anthon Schmitt, her husband Arthur Pelster, brother Louis Schmitt and sister-in-law Margaret Schmitt, sister Rosella Lloyd and brother-in-law Francis Lloyd, sister-in-law Maureen Schmitt, nephew Bruce Vizina and Doreen Sue Harrison. She instilled in us a love of reading, a strong work ethic, a sense of justice, a love of flowers (there were always flowers in a vase even if it was a lonely bud), gardening (she had a green thumb), an interest in politics (she was a diehard Democrat to the end) and the importance of good friends. Actions speak louder than words and the love and care of her husband and our father, compassion for friends and family in need, and respect for all things living serves as a model for all of us. Eulalia graduated from high school in Dalton, NE and shortly thereafter married Arthur Pelster in 1937. Their life together took them to Dalton, Bridgeport and finally Sidney, NE. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dalton, NE, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sidney, NE and St. Cyril’s Catholic Church in Tucson, AZ, embracing her faith no matter where she lived. Following the death of her husband in 1982, she bravely moved to Tucson in 1986 where her daughter Janet Vall and two grandchildren resided to start a new life. Eulalia was Nebraska Mother of the Year in 1983 and was active in Beta Sigma Phi in both Sidney, NE and Tucson, AZ until 2004 as well as achieving Master Chapter Alpha. She worked either full-time or part-time until she was 85 years old as well as taking continuing education classes in Sidney, NE and Tucson, AZ. She was never idle; her volunteer activities, interests and hobbies spanned from ceramics to attending every theatre production she could, to reading her favorite poets, Emily Dickinson and Mayo Angelou. Eulalia’s family extends a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Devon Gables who provided her with such compassionate and tender care in the last six months of her life. A celebration of her life will be held on Monday, September 17 at St. Cyril’s Catholic Church in Tucson, AZ at 10 a.m. and Thursday, September, 20 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sidney, Nebraska at 10 a.m, with a rosary preceding at 9:00 a.m. Internment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery followed by a reception at the church. Please consider contributing in Eulalia’s memory to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona - 2905 E. Skyline Drive, Tucson, AZ 85718 or St. Patrick’s Catholic Church 1039 14th Ave., Sidney, NE 69162.