Beatrice M May

MONONA-Beatrice Marie (Schweigert) May, age 93, died peacefully on Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Heritage Senior Living Memory Care in Monona.  Bea was a loving wife, a nurturing mother, and a tireless volunteer for countless community organizations in the greater Madison area.  She loved her family, practiced her Catholic faith, and helped others.  Bea was born in Weyerhauser, Wisc. on May 23, 1925, the third daughter and fifth of six children to John and Barbara (Busche) Schweigert.  She grew up on a farm and graduated from Bruce High School in 1942.  Bea moved to Madison and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1947 with a BS degree in Home Economics Education.  She was a member of Phi U, Omicron Nu, and Mortar Board Society.  She was also very active at St. Paul’s Catholic Center on campus, where she met and fell in love with Harold L. May, a German-Irish farm boy from Mineral Point.  They were married by Fr. Alvin Kutchera at St. Paul’s on August 28, 1948, and their deep love would last a lifetime.  During her career, Bea taught high school and at Madison Area Technical College, and spent many years as a library aide and substitute teacher at Oregon Elementary School.  She also was a Religious Education teacher at Holy Mother of Consolation Catholic Church in Oregon, and for the Marriage Preparation Course for the Diocese of Madison.  Bea was very active in 4-H, serving as a member and officer of the Dane County 4-H Leaders Council and the Dane County Junior Fair Board, in addition to leading the Lakeview Larks 4-H club in Oregon.  Bea was an active member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Monona and Holy Mother of Consolation Catholic Church in Oregon after the family moved in 1964.  She was a member of the Madison Catholic Women’s Club, put in over 11,000 hours as a volunteer at St. Mary’s Hospital and Auxiliary, and was a member of the St. Anne’s Society at Immaculate Heart of Mary.  In her spare time, she was a 20 gallon blood donor to the American Red Cross and supported her husband Harold by being a long time member of Al-Anon.   Bea had a great love of her family, including her many nieces and nephews.  For years she held a Christmas cookie party for her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews and she always saved room for another plate at her table and another person in her heart.  Bea is survived by her eight delightful (at times) children, Mary Jo (Richard) Morrow, of Fond du Lac, Barbara May, of Evansville, Carol May, of Prairie du Sac, Michael May (Briony Foy), of Madison, Laurie (Michael) Larson, of Eagan, Minn, David (Kathy) May, of Mosinee, and the twins, Trish (Bert) Paris, of Belleville, and Paul May (Lisa Lundell), of Minneapolis, Minn.; 21 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law, Marge (Peter) Terenzetti, of Utica, New York, Jack (Laura) May, of Roseville, Calif., Lucille May, of Mineral Point, and Jim Christ of Menomonee Falls; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Leo May in 2016; parents; and all of her siblings, Gerald (Millie) Schweigert, Eileen (William) Schaller, Irma (Gerry) Osterman, Fred Schweigert, and Bernie (Alta )Schweigert; sisters and brothers-in-law, Paul May, Genevieve (Sister Stellan) May, Norma (May) Christ, Alta Christ, and Elaine May.   A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield Rd, Monona, at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 20, 2018 with Father Ken Klink presiding.  Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery.  Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday July 19, 2018, with a rosary service at 6:45 p.m. and from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Friday.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Endowment Fund, the Fr. Kutchera Memorial Library at St. Paul’s Catholic Center, or St. Mary’s Hospital.  The May family would like to extend our greatest thanks to the caretakers at Heritage Assisted Living and Memory Care, Agrace HospiceCare, and to Dr. Orest Kostelyna of Dean Clinics for their love and care of our sweet mother.  Rest in Peace Mom, and say “hi” to Dad.  Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Dr. (608) 221-5420