Pauline M. Kesse

Pauline Mary (Maday) Kesse passed away on Saturday January 28, 2017.  She was 95 years old.  She was born March 28, 1921 in Atchison, Kansas the daughter of John and Mary (Eisenkohl) Maday.   She graduated from Mount St. Scholastica Academy.  She was a member of the Greatest Generation attending dances and other USO functions at Fort Leavenworth during World War II.  She married Victor Kesse on August 21, 1946 at St.  Benedict Catholic Church in Atchison.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.  She started working at Penneys in Lawrence, KS in 1956.  She continued working at Penneys after moving to Topeka where she was trained as a “ladies undergarment specialist” and retired after almost 25 years of service.  She was a very involved member of St. Matthews Catholic Church.  After retiring from Penneys, she volunteered in the church office for the Catholic education classes for almost 15 years.  Family, friends and church meant everything to Polly.   When asked what she wanted for Christmas and birthdays, she would always say the same thing: “I just want us to be all together.”  She enjoyed corresponding with family and friends.  It also meant a lot to her to receive cards and letters.  Every Christmas and birthday she could always tell you how many cards she had received.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor Kesse, twin sister Helene (Maday) Barlics and daughter Becky (Kesse) Johnson Harper.   She is survived by her brother John Maday and wife Bonnie, her son Vic Kesse, Jr and wife Deb, son-in-law Don Harper; 3 grandchildren Paul Johnson and wife Denise, David Kesse and wife Lisa, and Sarah (Kesse) Smith and husband Kyle, and; 6 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.  The family wishes to extend special thanks to the staff of McCrite Plaza Retirement Community and Grace Hospice for their compassionate care.  Pauline will lie in state after 2:00 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home where a Rosary will be prayed at 5:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 pm.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Friday, February 3, 2017 at St. Matthew Catholic Church.  Graveside Services will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Atchison, Kansas on Friday at 3:00 p.m.  Donations may be made to St. Matthew Catholic Church, 2700 Virginia, Topeka, KS 66605 or Grace Hospice, 3715 SW 29th Street, Suite 100, Topeka, KS  66614


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