December 25, 1924 - February 1, 2023
A Funeral Mass for Stella Eischen, 98, of Algona, was held Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Divine Mercy Parish - St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona. Burial took place at the St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Bishop Garrigan Chapel in Algona with a rosary beginning at 4 p.m.
Stella Mae Eischen passed to eternal life on Feb. 1 at the Kossuth Regional Health Center surrounded by family and friends. Stella was born to William and Esther (Wolf) Mayer on Christmas Day 1924, on a farm near St. Benedict. She was married to Robert John Eischen on June 10, 1947, at St. Benedict Catholic Church. They worked on a farm and raised their family of five children until Bob’s retirement. They enjoyed traveling to visit family and socialized with a life-long group of close friends.
After Bob’s death on Sept. 21, 2005, Stella moved to an apartment in Algona. She became a member of St. Cecelia Catholic Church and remained active in her card clubs and in contact with friends and relatives across the country.
Stella’s Catholic faith was the foundation of her life. She was the church organist and choir director for over 60 years at St. Benedict and was very active in Catholic Daughters of America, holding many leadership positions. Stella was an accomplished seamstress, quilter and needleworker, an avid gardener and reader, a great cook, an intrepid genealogist and a budding watercolorist. Her steadfast source of wisdom and counsel to her family and friends will be sorely missed.
Stella was preceded in death by her husband Robert; her parents; brother Robert Mayer; sisters Jane Cooper and Ramona Mayer; and daughter-in-law Janet Eischen. She is survived by her children Steven Eischen; Mary (Wayne) Ballantyne; Richard (Sheree) Eischen; Joan (Tony) Mancuso; Daniel (Joan) Eischen; 17 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Harold Eischen, many nieces and nephews, special confidant Carol Ludwig, and devoted caregivers Gloria Peterson and Paula See.
Online condolences may be left at www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.