Audrey Matchey

Audrey A. Matchey, 82, of rural Independence, died Friday, May 30, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Health System-La Crosse. Audrey was born in Milwaukee on February 25, 1932 to Henry and Elizabeth (Milbrath) Zarling. She was united in marriage to Ladislaus "Laddie" Matchey on August 19,1950.  He died June 2, 2010. They lived near Camp Lejeune,N.C. for 14 months while Laddie was with the Marine Corps Reserve. In December 1951 they came back to Wisconsin and rented a farm near Pleasantville. Ten years later they purchased a farm in Travers Valley. They had twelve children and Audrey kept busy cooking and canning home-grown produce. Audrey was a devoted church member and she served in several officer positions in the Parish Council of Catholic Women and also as treasurer in the Arcadia Deanery. She was a member of the Rosary Society and of the American Legion Auxiliary, serving several years as Auxiliary secretary and treasurer. Audrey was a church organist at SS. Peter and Paul Church. She also taught CCD for 21 years. Audrey was an administrative assistant/bookkeeper at Independence Public School for over 20 years. Survivors include three daughters,  Mary Edwards of Vancouver, Wash., Theresa (Dan) Pierzina of Arcadia, Ruth (Jeff) Kersten of St. Louis Park, Minn.; eight sons, Paul of Strum, Wis., Thomas (Cindy) of Hixton, Wis., Mark (Margie) of Independence, Samuel (Terri) of Brooklyn Park, Minn., Joseph (Stefanie) of Arcadia, Gregory of Mukwonago, Wis., Brian (Connie) of Mondovi, Wis, and Michael (Kelly) of Random Lake, Wis.; sister, Barbara Kannenberg; brother-in-law, Delmer Kannenberg, 35 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Audrey was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Laddie; daughter, Barbara Matchey; brother, Gerald; sister-in-law, Aurelia Zarling and grandson, Bobby Matchey. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence, with Very Rev. Woodrow H. Pace officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.   Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Monday, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. followed by a rosary, at Edison Funeral Home, Independence, and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Audrey Matchey, please visit our flower store.