Margaret Ann Chicos, age 88, of New Richland died peacefully on Wednesday morning, March 22, 2017, at the New Richland Care Center.
Visitation was held from to 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 26, 2017 at All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland and will continue for one hour prior to the Mass at church on Thursday. A Memorial Mass will be held four days later, on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at All Saints Catholic Church. Interment will take place on a later date in Calvary Cemetery in New Richland.
Arrangements are being handled by the Starkson & Steffel Funeral and Cremation Services - McRaith Chapel of Waseca. www.wasecafuneral.com
Margaret Ann was born on October 16, 1928, in Freeborn Township, Freeborn County, MN to Thomas P. and Monika (Giese) Chicos. She graduated from Freeborn High School with the class of 1945 and Mankato Commercial College in December of 1945. Margaret worked in finance and insurance claims offices in Mankato and Rochester until 1952, then moved to the state of Washington and started in Hospital Medical Records in Bremerton and Seattle. She returned to Minnesota where she was Director of Medical Records at the hospital in Austin, and then at Waseca. She then did an independent study earning her ART degree. Margaret retired in November 1993, after which she spent much time volunteering and helping senior citizens and enjoying her Elderhostel travels.
Margaret dedicated herself to parish life at All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland. Her involvement included: Liturgy Committee (Chairperson), Parish Council, Parish Representative for Deanery Council, Eucharistic Minister, Communion Service Minister, Lector, Rosary Leader for New Richland Care Center and Country Neighbors, CCD teacher, choir leader and cantor, ASCCW member, Mission Committee Chairperson, Deanery Representative for Diocesan Council for Bishops Watters and Vlazny, and Parish Rep. for Vietnamese Resettlement in New Richland. Other civic volunteerism included, assisting at the New Richland Care Center, Country Neighbors, and Hospice. She was a facilitator for people with disabilities and served two-terms for Waseca County Council on Aging.
Music was always important to Margaret. She was a voice student of Sisters Sixtus Speltz-School of Musical Art in Rochester, was a soloist for Catholic Services at the U.S. Naval Chapel and Hospital Chapel in Bremerton, Wash., and was a member of the Seattle Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra, Bremerton Women’s Chorus, and the Waseca Chorale.
Margaret enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing, and golfing. She traveled to almost every state including Alaska and Hawaii, several trips to Europe, and the Holy Land. Some of Margaret’s memorable happenings included meeting and visiting with Mother Teresa, general audiences with Pope Pius XII, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. She also was chosen as one of 12 persons from Rochester to meet President Harry Truman on his train in Rochester, and singing the National Anthem at the State DFL meeting in 1948.
She is survived by three siblings, Thomas (Ruth) Chicos Jr. of New Richland, Irene Lust of New Richland, and Francis (Eileen) Chicos of New Richland; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Monika; brothers, Sylvester Chicos and Charlie Chicos and sister-in-law Ann Chicos; sister, Angeline Kent and brother-in-law Jerry Kent; brother-in-law, Hubert Lust; and nieces and nephews.
Margaret was proud, honored and grateful that she was able to donate her body to the Mayo Clinic Bequest Program of Rochester for others to learn. Her family would like to honor her legacy by requesting all donations be given to the Mayo Clinic Bequest Program.