Olivia Ralph
December 22, 1908 ~ September 2, 2011
Olivia Ralph, age 102 of Lombard, IL, formerly of New Hampton, Iowa died Friday September 2, 2011, at the Beacon Hill Retirement Home in Lombard, IL.
A Memorial Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 2, 2011, at Holy Family Parish - St. Joseph Center, New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. Inurnment will be in Calvary Cemetery, New Hampton.
Friends may greet the family beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, October 22, 2011, at the church. Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in New Hampton is in charge of arrangements.
Olivia Ralph was born December 22, 1908, in Haverhill, Iowa, Marshall County, the daughter and eldest child of Joseph and Rose (Stalzer) Frantzen. At the age of four years, Olivia and her two year old brother, along with their parents, rode the train to Chickasaw County and settled on a farmstead four miles east and mile south of Alta Vista. She received her education at St. William’s in Alta Vista and all her sacraments in the Catholic Faith.
On January 14, 1931, she married Jim Ralph at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Alta Vista and together they farmed in the Jerico area. To this union two daughters were born, June and LaVerne. Jim died Sept. 6, 1943.
Olivia later married Joe Ralph on Nov. 9, 1946, and farmed near Jerico until retiring to New Hampton. To this union two children were born, Mike and Virginia. Joe died April 15, 1993.
Olivia was a longtime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of America, the Rosary Society, and other various groups. Not only was Olivia a homemaker, but for many years was a hairdresser in New Hampton, owning and operating her beauty shop. She was an avid gardener, enjoyed crocheting, reading, card playing, and bowling. Olivia enjoyed cooking and baking and will especially be remembered for her pies and cookies.
She is survived by her three daughters, June (Jerry) Sommers of Des Plaines, IL, LaVerne (Robert) Fangman of Monroe, GA, and Virginia of Woodbridge,IL; one son, Mike of Illinois; 8 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren; two sisters, Alfrieda Tozzi of Arlington Heights, IL and Helen (Wally) Fair of Elma, IA; several nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parent, Joe and Rose; her husbands, Jim and Joe; her sisters, Marie Hilsman, Dorothy Reynolds, Bernice Maruska, and Joan Larson; her brothers, John, Joseph, Jr., and Leonard Frantzen
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Good bye Grandma Ralph. They say you will be missed for your pies and cookies, to that I would include your canned vegetables, in particular the mushrooms.
Virginia and Family, Olivia was a grand and genuine lady. She always made me smile, Olivia had a great personality. I will never forget her homemade delicious bread and Olivia always shared her garden produce. Olivia was a great neighbor, I missed her when she moved to Illinois. God Bless and Take Care. I hope to see you on Saturday.
We will never forget Aunt Leafa and how she was good to us and our family, always welcoming us into her home. Her words of advise, the cookies she always sent home with us, we can still smell your yummy pies!! The many stories and laughter that was shared, we will always treasure. Jess, Jolene and James still have their teddy bears she made them. She was one great lady!! So glad we got to visit one last time in Lombard. Rest in peace.
Sending my sympathy to Olivia’s family. I worked at the First National Bank as a teller and Olivia was a grand lady to wait on. She always walked to the bank regardless of the weather and to church. I have many nice memories of Olivia.