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STOUGHTON - Maria Lorenza Graciela Amundson, 88, of Stoughton, passed away from this world on March 9, 2026, with her daughter and son-in-law at her side; finally joining her parents, brothers and husband who she had wanted to see every day for the past few years. She was born August 10, 1937, in the colonial city of Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico, the daughter of Felipe Pineda and Beatriz Robles Pineda. Legally named for the saint day on which she was born (Lorenzo or Lawrence), her parents called her the Spanish form of ‘Grace’ with its nickname ‘Chela,’ which she used throughout her life.

She enjoyed the special privilege of being the only girl in a family with eight boys, mostly older, and with whom she was very close. Growing up in Mexico in the 1940s and 50s, Chela loved having friends and a busy social life. At parties she enjoyed music and dances of the time like cha-cha and mambo. She met friends to walk around the public square (zócalo) and to linger over ice cream or Coca-Cola. She also worked showing jewelry in her brother’s silversmith business and jewelry shop.

Chela often said that she had hoped to become a lawyer. She studied not only English (which was required), but Latin and Greek, at which she excelled. Ultimately, she didn’t attend university, but met Richard A. Amundson while visiting with family friends in Wisconsin.

They were married on October 24, 1959, in the historic cathedral of her hometown. Richard built a house in Stoughton with help from his family and friends, where they resided for the rest of their marriage of 63 years. She belonged to St. Ann’s Catholic Church where she taught her children's’ catechism class for a year or two. A long-standing member of the ‘International Women’s Club’ of Stoughton, she met many women from around the world and some became lifelong friends. She chose American citizenship, but was forever proud of her Mexican heritage and passed that on to her children and grandchildren.

Chela adored being a grandmother, spending countless hours baby-sitting and playing with her grandchildren. Having learned to knit from her mother-in-law, Mabel, she made many baby and kid’s sweaters over the years. She and Richard drove to Kenosha, Wis., diligently to attend their grandchildren’s school and extracurricular activities well into the middle and high school years.

Once her kids were older, Chela wanted to earn some of her own money, so she worked part-time in food service at Stoughton schools, Chose’s A&W and Skaalen Home. When Richard retired, so did Chela so they could travel more to visit family and friends.

Over the years, the family had made road trips across many parts of Wisconsin, the U.S., Mexico and Canada. One unique journey in the 1960s was by train directly from the Stoughton railroad depot to Mexico City. Later on, Chela joined Richard on business trips, they traveled to England to meet their son-in-law’s family and toured Norway with the Stoughton City Band.

Surviving is daughter, Michelle Amundson (Andrew Burroughs); son, Richard M. Amundson; grandchildren, Graciela Burroughs (Lee Starovich), Juliana Amundson, Philip Amundson and Vincent Moat; sister-in-law, Louise (Amundson) Schmoll; and many nieces and nephews. Her husband; and brothers, Rafael, Manuel, Sigifrido, Felipe, Gabriel, Rogelio, Sergio and Miguel preceded her in death.

A liturgy service will be held at GUNDERSON FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St., Stoughton, at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026. A visitation will held at the funeral home from 12 noon until liturgy service. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Stoughton.

Memorials may be made to the UW-Madison Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (arc.wisc.edu), the UW Initiative to End Alzheimers (iea.wisc.edu) or to the American Civil Liberties Union (of Wisconsin (aclu-wi.org).

The family wishes to thank all the kind employees at Skaalen Home Magnolia Gardens Memory Care for their dedicated and loving care as well as Agrace Hospice for their comprehensive services.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 N. @ Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590

Maria "Chela" Amundson

August 10, 1937 - March 09, 2026

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