Eileen Chicos, age 83, formerly of New Richland, MN, passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, May 17, 2019, at Friedrich’s Funeral Home in New Richland. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland with visitation one hour prior to the service. Father Michael Cronin will officiate. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in rural New Richland.
Mary Eileen Carr was born on April 11, 1936, in Indianapolis, IN to John and Kathryn (Maloney) Carr. Eileen graduated from St. Agnes Academy in 1954 before working for Indiana Bell telephone company in Indianapolis.
Eileen met and fell in love with Francis “Pat” Chicos while he was stationed at Fort Harrison, IN. They were married on August 16, 1958, in a double wedding with Eileen’s beloved twin sister, Kathleen, and Thomas Hanley. After Pat’s discharge from the Army, the couple moved to Minnesota in 1959 to run the Chicos family farm in New Richland. For a number of years, Eileen spent her summers working at Oakview Golf Course in Freeborn.
Eileen was a member of All Saints Catholic Church where she was active in her guild. Eileen sewed hundreds of baby blankets for baptisms and other children in need for over 20 years. She was a dedicated Twins baseball fan. She loved collecting Precious Moments and tending to her garden. Competitive by nature, Eileen delighted in playing cards and other games with her family and friends. She was a hard worker who will be remembered for her determined, yet loving, nature and independence.
Eileen is survived by her children: Michael Chicos (Deb Lexvold) of New Richland; Linda (Joel) Stensrud of Freeborn; Kathy (Jeff) Fystrom of Lino Lakes, MN; Diane Chicos of Appleton, WI; grandchildren: Derek (Jen) Chicos and their children, Elyse, Celia, and Faye; Dave (Nikki) Chicos and their son, Owen; Chad (Hannah) Stensrud; Jessica (Brad) Tomschin, and their daughter, Shay; her brother, Donald (Barb) Carr, of Indianapolis, IN; her sister-in-law, Shirley Carr, and many other extended relatives and friends.
Eileen was preceded in death by her husband, Pat; their daughter, Theresa, in infancy; her parents; and her siblings: Kathleen Hanley, John Carr, James Carr, and Richard Carr.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to MCHS Albert Lea Hospice.