Theodora B. McDonough

Theodora B. "Theo" McDonough, 93, of Seneca, Kansas, died Tuesday, February 13, 2001, at Country View Estates Care Home in Seneca.
     She was born October 24, 1907, in Seneca, Ks., the daughter of Joseph M. and Mary E. Buening Wempe. She grew up in Seneca, attended Sts. Peter and Paul Schools, and graduated from the high school in 1926. Following high school, she moved to Omaha, NE, where she worked at Byrne Hammer Dry Goods Wholesale Co. for three years. In 1929 she moved to Topeka, KS, and worked as a secretary for Rock Island Railroad. Here she met her future husband, Ernest F. McDonough, who was an auditor for the Rock Island Railroad. She later moved to Des Moines, IA, when Ernest was reassigned there. They were married on January 16, 1933 in Chicago.
     Theo traveled with her husband until their son Jim was born in 1936. They lived in Chicago. Ernest preceded her in death on January 19, 1960. She then began working for Alexander-Corroan-Black Insurance Agency of Chicago as a secretary, and retired as the supervisor of their policy-writing department.
     In April 1976 she moved to Seneca to live and care for her mother. After her mother's death, she chose to stay in Seneca and enjoy her many friends. She was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, St. Ann's Altar Society, Seneca Golf Association, Nemaha County Historical Association (life member), the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Guild, and bridge clubs in Seneca. She enjoyed playing golf and bridge, knitting, especially Afghans, and working on crossword puzzles. She was a former member of St. Carthage Church in Chicago.
     Survivors are a son, James McDonough of Hammond, IN; three sisters, Loretta McCool of Port Angeles, WA, Catherine Edelman of Palm Springs, CA, and Jean Kuckelman of Frankfort, KS; ten grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
      Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Maurice and Dr. Gerard Wempe and a sister, Patricia Wempe.
     The Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Friday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Thursday at 2 P.M.
     Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter and Paul School or Nemaha Valley Community Hospital and sent in care of the family.