A  Mass of Christian Burial for Mary "Terese" T. Vachta of Cresco, IA was held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 27, 2008 at Notre Dame Parish in Cresco with Rev. Richard J. Ament officiating. Organist was Suzanne Ollendick, cantor was Katie Ferrie and lectors were: Dr. Laura Langreck, Jessi LeClear Vachta, Brian Vachta, and Tyler LeClear Vachta. Pallbearers were: Tom Vachta, Brian Vachta, Tyler LeClear Vachta, Lonnie Langreck, Ken Hemesath, and Rick Schoeberl. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in Cresco.
    Conway Funeral Home in Cresco, IA handled the arrangements.
    Mary, 83, died Thursday, October 23, 2008 at Regional Health Services of Howard County Hospital in Cresco.
    Mary Terese Anderson was born August 12, 1925 in Orleans   Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa, the daughter of Ole H. and Anna R. (McCabe) Anderson. She attended rural school near her home and then graduated from Notre Dame High School in Cresco. She attended Luther College in Decorah and received her teaching certificate. Terese returned to the Orleans School and taught for two years, then worked as a  substitute teacher at Assumption School. She went to work at the Hospital in Cresco as a nurse's aide, where she met George and married. She     continued to work at the hospital for 20 years after their marriage as a ward clerk. 
    On April 23, 1951, she married George Vachta at the Assumption Catholic Church in Cresco. They became the parents of three children, Linda and twins, Don and Tom. They lived in Cresco all their 57 years of marriage. 
    Terese belonged to Notre Dame Parish, Notre Dame Circles of Faith, the Hospital Auxiliary, and the American Legion Auxiliary.  She liked to decorate cakes and to camp and travel. They took trips throughout Canada and the United States, also making a trip to Germany. She loved to spend her time caring for and sharing and laughing with her grandchildren.  Terese belonged to a Bible study group for many years, and Terese and George led a marriage encounter group for young couples for several years.
    She is survived by her husband, George of Cresco; one daughter: Linda and her husband, Ken Hemesath of Waucoma, IA; one son: Tom, and his wife, Mary Ellen (Stevenson) of Cresco; four grandchildren: Lonnie Langreck of Rochester, MN, Dr. Laura Langreck of Rice Lake, WI, Tyler, and his wife, Jessi LeClear Vachta of Cresco, IA, and Brian Vachta of Cresco, IA; and one great-grandson: Lincoln Langreck.
     Terese was preceded in death by a son: Don on August 7, 1975; her parents; six brothers: Garnet, Orville, Francis, Clarence, Gregory, and Leo Anderson; and four sisters: Gertrude Bigalk, Agnes Beckman, Lucille Carolan, and an infant sister, Paulene.