contributor: 

Oconto County Times-Herald  
January 12, 2000 

LENA - Cecelia Geary, 92, passed away Sunday January 9, 2000 after a short illness. She was born to the late Frank and Kathryn (Neta) Steffeck March 6, 1907 in the Town of Spuce, where she was a life long resident. Cecelia taught in many of the local schools during a time when it meant having the teachers live with school families and the, schools were one room and had many students. Two schools that she taught at were Elm Ridge school (on Goatsville Road) which does not exist any more and Kadlac School at the Corner of County B & M.

On June of 1938, she married Phillip L. Geary. They had three ice cream shops in New London, Mosinee and Stevens Point. Phillip died in a car accident three months later. After Phillip's death in 1938, Cecelia went back to college. She received a bachelors degree in education from Stevens Point in 1947, and Library Science from Madison in 1948. She then went to Rosary College in Chicago and received her Masters degree in Library Science. Cecelia worked in Libraries for the Institute of Paper in Appleton, the Veteran's, Administration Hospital in Downy, Ill., School of Nursing at St. Anne's Hospital, Cook County Hospital and Northwest Community Hospital in Chicago. Upon her retirement in 1974, Cecelia returned to the Spruce area and lived with her sister, Theresa.

Cecelia is survived by her sister, Theresa Steffeck, of Spruce; and nieces and nephews, Richard (Peg) Steffeck, Mayville; Pat (Gene) Sager, Lena; Joan (Marc) Denis, Lena; Victor J. Steffeek, Jr., Spruce and Robert (Selena) Steffeck, Chicago.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Alex and Victor Steffeck and one sister Emma Slupinski. She was also preceded in death by two beloved nephews and one niece, Thomas Steffeek, James Steffeck and Cheryl Jenko. Cecelia and her sisters Emma and Teresa left a legacy of education for their nieces and nephews to follow, they greatly thanked them.

Services will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Spruce location, Friday January 14, at 11 a.m. with Father Frank Schrage officiating. Rhodes-Chairapata Funeral Home, Lena is assisting the family.