Audrey Opitz, 91, Luverne, died Friday, March 4, 2022, at Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne.
Audrey Hills was born on March 2, 1931, to Ora and Hazel (Doschadis) Hills in Beardsley. As a child, Audrey babysat for neighbor children. She later worked as a waitress in Beardsley and at Rogers Dairy in Watertown, South Dakota.
Audrey married Elwood Opitz on July 26, 1949, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Sisseton, South Dakota. In 1951 the couple moved to Watertown. In 1960 the family moved to Luverne. Audrey worked at Ben’s Bakery in Luverne and at the high school as a cook. She was also a housekeeper/cook at St. Catherine parsonage and spent many years caring for her children and grandchildren.
Audrey was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne, the Parish Prayer Chain and the WCCW. She was a member of Al-Anon and a charter member of Luverne Al-Anon. She enjoyed embroidery, rosary, baking and coffee with close friends.
Audrey is survived by seven children, Connie (Marty) Manley of Mankato, Vickie Kramer of Worthington, Cindy (Marlo) Van Dorsten of Walnut Grove, Carrie (Mike) Zebedee of Fairmont, Mary (Jason Sandmann) Opitz of Mankato, Mark (Annie) Opitz of Luverne and Laura (Doug) Loosbrock of Lismore; 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; siblings Arlene Deutsch, Mary Ewert, Virginia Henessey, Patricia (John) Stoick, Linda Sibson, Carol (Dean) Palmer, Larry Hills, Bonnie (Jerry) Hendricks; brother-in-law Dale Sykora; and sister-in-law Jennie Hills.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elwood, on Dec. 5, 2010; great-grandson Hayden Benson; siblings Donald (Sally) Hills, Dorothy (Robert) O’Leary, Robert Hills, Joyce (Ronald) Bogenreif, John (Doralie) Hills, Kathleen Sykora, Kenneth (Bitsy) Hills; and brothers-in-law Willie Deutch, Willie Ewert and Jim Henessey.
Mass of Christian burial was Wednesday, March 9, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Burial was in the St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery in Luverne.
Donations are preferred to Luverne Hospice or St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Condolences may be sent to the family of Audrey Opitz at 180 W. 4th Street, Lismore, MN 56155.
Arrangements were provided by Dingmann Funeral Home of Luverne, dingmannandsons.com.
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