Theresa Westrich

NEW HAMBURG, Mo. -- Theresa C. Westrich, daughter of the late Joseph Anton and Laura Elizabeth Linhart Bucher, was born Nov. 22, 1936, in New Hamburg and departed her life Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau at the age of 85 years.

Theresa was an organist at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg for many years, and she was a member of the St. Anne's Sodality. She was known for her hard work ethic, especially when it came to chasing cows and fixing fences, and by all the places at which she worked: Buckstein, Thorngate, Superior Electric, Papa D's Restaurant, Airport Galley, Brown Shoe factory and Procter & Gamble, from which she retired. After retirement, she and her late husband owned and operated Schindler's Tavern, home of the Bologna Burger, for four years.

On May 25, 1957, she married Joseph Westrich at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. He preceded her in death Jan. 29, 2015. Theresa and Joseph loved their garden, especially their potato patch. They also loved spending their leisure time camping and water skiing.

Theresa is survived by her beloved dog, Buddy; two daughters, Sandra (Howard) Bollinger of Benton, Missouri, and Stephanie (Russell) Burger of New Hamburg; son, Karl (Mary) Westrich of Cape Girardeau; three sisters, Anna Glastetter of Benton, Missouri, and Agnes Scheeter and Clare Heisserer, both of New Hamburg; brother, Joseph (Donna) Bucher of New Hamburg; six grandchildren, Karrie Westrich, Camille Bollinger, Dietrich Bollinger, Major (Monica) Burger, Kristain (Tom) Carroll and Summer (Nathan) Meystedt; five great-grandchildren, Kamden Bollinger, Mila Burger, Merci Burger, Knox Carroll and Vera Carroll; and many nieces and nephews.

Apart from her husband and her parents, she was also preceded in the death of her brother, Harold Bucher.

Prayer service will begin at 5 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, Missouri. Visitation will follow immediately after prayers until 8 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, following the rosary at 9:30 a.m., at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg, with the Rev. Bala Govindu officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family requests donations be made to St. Lawrence Catholic Church, P.O. Box 247, Benton, MO 63736.

Online condolences may be shared at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.