ALFRED, Jane

Mary Jane Alfred Born April, 1 1921, married April 25, 1942, Died February 6, 2011 Mary Jane Alfred was born on April 1, 1921 to William and Agnes Vogt in St. Charles, MO. Despite being born on April Fools Day, she certainly was no joke and was a great joy to her parents. Such a joy was she, her parents would give her nine brothers and sisters, who were Larry, Norbert, George, William Jr., Donald, Margaret, Louise, Irene and Emma and the late Lucille Wehmeyer. She always had fond childhood memories of playing and going to school with her brothers and sisters and usually had several of them with her in the small country school. It was not always fun and play at home living on a large farm. There was always chores, housework, laundry, gardening and taking care of the many animals, not to mention being the oldest and most responsible while, of course, being expected to be the model example of her siblings which they can attest to. To facilitate her attending St. Charles High School she lived with her dear Grandma Mary Jane Boschert during the school year. After graduation, she attended and graduated from the Sandford Brown College learning shorthand and all the other skills required of young office girls at the time. After school she worked at Emerson Electric in the office scheduling motor repairs etc. using a bus to travel to Wellston. Along the way, she met and married a young handsome farmer Roy Alfred on April 25, 1942 and stared a long career as a devoted and hard working farmer’s wife and mother. Their future was bright, after all they had a farm to work and a team of mules! During World War II, came more work as Mom and Dad raised cattle and provided milk and crops to help feed a nation at war. Rationing was hard on everyone, but they always had food to eat and were able to prosper. Although times were hard, there were always many family gatherings, picnics, birthday celebrations with the ever growing Alfred and Vogt families. Help was always needed on the farm and some of it came with Elizabeth (Betty) Jane on April 25, 1943, Mary Lee born on June 17, 1945, Roy Lee Jr. born on march 2 1948, Diane Marie born on November 12, 1952 and Ronald Edward born on May 24, 1954. Very devout Catholics, mom and dad always made sure we got to church on Sundays and Holy Days and we can remember how much work and time spent just getting everyone up, breakfast made and dressed for school followed by many cold rides car pooling to school and sharing your cold, measles, etc. with everyone else and getting to Mass and school (St. Francis, Portage Des Sioux) on time! Of course, the good nuns always had us say, God forbid, our daily prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance and sing our National Anthem. Why not today we ask! After school, meant another car pool ride home, chores and homework almost every night. If raising five kids weren’t enough, there was always work to do in raising the crops, wheat, corn, soybeans and animals, pigs, cows, chickens, cats and dogs along with tending to a large garden, feeding hired hands to run two farms. Trying to survive and prosper despite snow blizzards and harsh cold winters, heat and drought in the summers, numerous floods with water in the house, a devastating wheat field fire and pestilence (grasshopper and army worms). Despite all this, mom always had the faith and strength to provide us a warm and nurturing childhood which we are eternally grateful for. Tragedy struck with the sudden death of her husband Roy on November 6, 1969 due to a sudden heart attack but she bravely carried on. She eventually sold the farm and moved to St. Charles and continued working at the St. Charles Journal until her retirement as a typist/typesetter. She very much enjoyed her retirement keeping busy decorating her home, playing bingo, babysitting and encouraging her 14 grandchildren and later 10 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. She took great pleasure in traveling abroad too on Pilgrimages to Rome & Assisi, Italy, Lourdes, France and Fatima, Portugal and did sightseeing in most of the States and Mexico via fond bus trips with Rose Marie Leonard, Margaret and Jeanne Burns as faithful traveling companions. In May of 2006 with age and a long hard life taking its toll, mom sold her home and moved to Mt. Carmel where her own dad had stayed for a number of years. She enjoyed her time there and was well taken care of. She used her time watching TV, playing bingo, doing crossword puzzles (her favorite) and visiting and supporting her neighbor residents. Finally with failing health, she went to the Lord, on Sunday February 6, 2011 at the age of 89. We can all join Our Lord in saying to her Well Done Mary Jane, Well Done! A Memorial Service will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Cahtolic Church, on April 2 At 11:00 a.m. Visitation prior to the service from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.. Memorial Masses and prayers are requested or contributions to the charity of your choice in her name.