Genevieve Katherine Strauss

In Loving Memory of Genevieve Katherine Strauss

Today, as we mourn her loss, we also celebrate the beautiful life she led and the lasting impact she made on each of us. Genevieve Katherine Byrne was born on Sunday, September 7, 1930, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The youngest of five, Gen’s life was mostly spent in St Paul and at 93 years she passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children, on November 15, 2023. During her final days at the Care facility, we would play music for her on our phones and at the time of her passing, about 7:45AM, Hank Snow’s, “A Fool Such As I”, was playing. She was a woman of grace and kindness, who possessed a razor intellect, right up to the end. She regularly outsmarted the contestants on “Wheel of Fortune”. Her vibrant spirit and warm nature made her a cherished presence in the lives of her family and friends.

She was baptized & educated at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Saint Paul, following her 4 older siblings through its 8th Grade. Its Church was dedicated in 1939 and Genevieve’s First Communion on May 7, 1939 was likely the first class. At Monroe High School, Genny as she was known was active in several organizations including Girl Reserves, Masque & Gavel, Science Club, Music/operetta, Y-Teens, CYC Council and the Senior Class Play in which she had the title role in Snow White. She maintained those close relationships and coordinated ongoing Monroe class reunions, the last one being the 65th. As a Secretary at St Paul Fire & Marine Company, later to become St Paul Companies, she also was a member of the company Marching Band playing the glockenspiel. In the early 1950’s, after the Korean War, Gen Byrne and Bill Strauss were members of the church choir where they met, and in 1954 they married.

Genevieve had a generous heart and was always willing to lend a helping hand. She opened her home as a Cub Scout Den Mother, and was an organizational Committee member on the earliest years of the Nativity County Fairs. For almost 20 years, there was at least one St Paul Pioneer Press & Dispatch paper route in the household, all of the children taking on the responsibility, in their time, and she and Dad were always there to give a helping hand. She obtained her nursing assistant certification and worked at Midway Hospital. Next challenge in her life was working on the counter and in the office of Sweeney Cleaners, at Snelling & St Clair, for 32 years until its closure.

She loved to fish (as long as someone baited her hook and took off the fish!). She enjoyed traveling throughout the country and the world visiting England, Ireland, France, Greece, Israel, Cyprus, Turkey, Thailand and Russia. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining and was active in her local bridge club. She was also an avid reader and never lost a game of Scrabble. She was a dedicated wife and mother and always put her family at the center of her world. She encouraged her six children and twelve grandchildren to pursue their dreams and helped them with her love and support.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Willard "Bill" Strauss, her parents, William M. Byrne and Anna M. (Gillespie) Byrne, her sister Mary Alice Eggert and her three brothers William(Bill), Raymond(Ray) and James(Bus). She is survived by her children, Stephen (Cecilia) Strauss, James (Dee) Strauss, Patrick Strauss, Martin (Kay) Strauss, Mary Strauss, Vincent (Marybeth) Strauss; her grandchildren, Cassandra (Casey Lalonde) Strauss, Theodore Strauss, William Strauss, Victoria (Cody) Haagenson, Rachel (Brady Stockert) Strauss, Jacob Strauss, Alec (Gillian) Strauss, Nathaniel Strauss, Amelia Strauss, Jennifer Strauss, Claudia Strauss, Stephanie Strauss; and her great grandchildren, Gabriel Haagenson, Lucille Lalonde, and Lincoln Haagenson. She is also survived by her Sister in Law, Roberta Strauss, cousins on the Gillespie side and many nieces and nephews. May her soul find eternal peace, and may her memory be a blessing to us all.

Visitation Tuesday, November 21 from 4:00pm – 7:00pm at Kessler & Maguire Funeral Home 640 West Seventh Street, Saint Paul. Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, November 22 at 10:30am with visitation one hour prior at Nativity of our Lord Catholic Church, 1938 Stanford Ave, Saint Paul. Luncheon at the Church following the service. Private Family Interment on a later date at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. www.kesslermaguire.com