Audrey Mae (Hills) Opitz

   AUDREY (HILLS) OPITZ, age 91, of Luverne, died Friday, March 4, 2022, at Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne. She was born March 2, 1931, in Beardsley, MN, to Ora and Hazel (Doschadis) Hills. As a child, Audrey (otherwise known as “Hon” by her family members) babysat for neighbor kids. She later worked as a waitress in Beardsley, MN and at Rogers Dairy in Watertown, SD.

   Audrey married Elwood Opitz on July 26, 1949, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Sisseton, SD. In 1951, the couple moved to Watertown, SD. In 1960, the family moved to Luverne. Audrey worked at Ben's Bakery in Luverne and at the high school as a cook. She was also a housekeeper/cook at St. Catherine Parsonage; and spent many years caring for her children and grandchildren.

   She was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne; the Parish Prayer Chain; the WCCW; and a member of Al-Anon; and a charter member of Luverne Al-Anon. She enjoyed embroidery, rosary, baking and coffee with close friends.

   Audrey is survived by seven children, Connie (Marty) Manley, Mankato; Vickie Kramer, Worthington; Cindy (Marlo) Van Dorsten, Walnut Grove; Carrie (Mike) Zebedee, Fairmont; Mary (Jason Sandmann) Opitz, Mankato; Mark (Annie) Opitz, Luverne; Laura (Doug) Loosbrock, Lismore; fourteen grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; siblings, Arlene Deutsch, Mary Ewert, Virginia Henessey, Patricia (John) Stoick, Linda Sibson, Carol (Dean) Palmer,  Larry Hills, Bonnie (Jerry) Hendricks; brother-in-law, Dale Sykora; and sister-in-law, Jennie Hills.

   She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Elwood, on December 5, 2010; great-grandson, Hayden Benson; siblings, Donald (Sally) Hills, Dorothy (Robert) O’Leary, Robert Hills, Joyce (Ronald) Bogenreif, John (Doralie) Hills, Kathleen Sykora, Kenneth (Bitsy) Hills, and brothers-in-law, Willie Deutch, Willie Ewert, Jim Henessey.

   Visitation will be Tuesday, March 8, 2022, from 5-7pm at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne; and also one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at St. Catherine Catholic Church, in Luverne, officiated by Monsignor Gerald Kosse.  Burial will be in the St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery in Luverne.  

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Luverne Hospice ~217 N Oakley St, Luverne, MN 56156~ or St. Catherines Church ~203 E Brown St, Luverne, MN 56156~ in her name.

 To live stream the funeral service please visit http://www.facebook.com/DingmannFH

To send condolences to the family please mail to: Audrey Opitz, 180 W. 4th Street, Lismore, MN  56155

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