Patricia Rose Traurig, 93, of New Ulm, MN passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at Amira Choice in Plymouth, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 9, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Ulm. Burial will follow in the New Ulm City Cemetery.
Visitation will be 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 8th, and continue from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 9th at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home NORTH CHAPEL in New Ulm.
To leave an online condolence for her family or to sign the guest book go to www.mvfh.org.
Patty was born November 24, 1930, in New Ulm to Andrew and Barbara Reinhart. She was baptized in the Catholic Church and remained a devout Catholic throughout her life. Patty graduated from Holy Trinity Catholic High School in New Ulm in 1949. Patty was a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Ulm. She was a loyal church volunteer, assisting with the St. Mary’s annual church festival, cooking and serving at funerals, and participating in prayer chains. She loved her hometown and spent the great majority of her life living within the New Ulm community.
Patty met the love of her life, Leo Traurig, and they were married on June 3, 1961, at the Cathedral of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in New Ulm. They were blessed with three children, David, Barbara, and Kari. Patty’s love for Leo and her three children was her life’s driving force. She found great joy and satisfaction in being a homemaker and a mom, where she set a high standard in both. Before Patty and Leo were married, Patty worked at the City Clerk’s office for the City of New Ulm and loved her years there. When her children were grown, she worked with the New Ulm Public Schools ECFE program as a childcare provider.
Patty will perhaps be most remembered by those who knew her best, for her deep love of family, especially for her five grandchildren. They were her pride and joy. She made “Oma and Opa’s house” a favorite place for the five grandkids to gather and make life-long memories. When all were assembled at Oma and Opa’s house, there was no shortage of laughter, animated commotion, board games, watching sports, and eating all their favorite foods. Patty and Leo spent many hours in the car traveling to their grandchildren’s various activities. To her children’s spouses, Patty was a mother-in-law extraordinaire. Beyond the many warm family recollections, Patty will always be remembered by friends and acquaintances for her kind smile, her warm heart and her witty sense of humor. She and Leo loved welcoming guests into their home. It was a popular hangout when the kids were in school where all visitors were made to feel “at home.”
Patty was a wonderful baker and cook and loved sharing her creations with family and friends, especially her famous home-baked cinnamon bread and dinner buns, and her homemade apple pie made from the apples grown in their backyard. Her home-cooked holiday meals were second to none. In addition to cherishing the time she spent with her immediate family, Patty enjoyed special gatherings and events with extended family and friends, shopping, reading, spending time outdoors, praying the Rosary, and traveling with Leo, which included three trips to Europe. Patty will be deeply missed by all who know her.
The family wishes to extend their deepest appreciation to these special caregivers; Trameka, Helene, Larry, Swaretta, Divina and Kara. Their love and care for Patty and Leo truly made a difference every day.
Patty was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Traurig, her parents Andrew and Barbara (Singer) Reinhart, her brother Armin Reinhart, her sister Lucille Macho and many other special family members and friends.
Survivors include her children, David (Kelly) Traurig of Kimball, Barb (Chace) Anderson of Maple Grove and Kari (Joe) Cotter of Lakeville; five grandchildren, Paul (Mollie) Anderson of Chaska, Emily Anderson of Maple Grove, Kenzie and Jacob Traurig of Kimball, and Alex Cotter of Lakeville; sister Renata Shimota, of Bloomington, sisters-in-law Lorraine Reinhart of Minnetonka, Kitty Traurig of Long Beach, California, Sharon Traurig (Arizona) and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Alzheimer’s Association, New Ulm Public Schools, and New Ulm Area Catholic Schools.
