Cyrilla Effertz

Cyrilla "Cy" Effertz, age 93, of Willmar, died Thursday, January 28, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 2, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. with a Daughters of Isabella Rosary service at 5 p.m. on Monday, February 1 at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue for one hour prior to the service. www.petersonbrothers.com

Cyrilla "Cy" Cecilia Effertz was born July 15, 1922, in Avon, Minnesota, the daughter of Laurence and Loretta (Keppers) Thielman. She grew up in Cold Spring and attended St. Boniface Catholic School, graduating in 1940. On July 26, 1945, Cy was united in marriage to Raphael "Ray" Effertz and they resided in Minneapolis before moving to Willmar in 1954. She was a homemaker and head cook in the Willmar Public Schools for 21 years, retiring in 1986. She was an active member of the Church of St. Mary, was active with the Daughters of Isabella, and received the Bishop's Medal of Service in 2003. Cy and Ray were also avid square dancers and were members of The Knuckleheads. Cy also enjoyed cooking, sewing, embroidery, planting flowers and jig-saw puzzles.

Cy is survived by her daughter, Laurie (and Orin) Torkelson of Atwater; four grandchildren, Adam (and Sabrina) Lere of Spicer, Charlene Gronseth (and special friend, Don Vick) of Alexandria, Katie (and Tyler) Smith of Willmar and Shelby Clark of Albany; and nine great-grandchildren. Also surviving is one brother, Wallace (and Louise) Thielman of Alexandria; five sisters, Valerie "Vaya" (and Vince) Sturm of St. Cloud, Leonella "Noney" Plantenberg of Eden Valley, Marlene Plantenberg of Richmond, Carol (and Harold "Archie") Theisen of Monticello and Mary (and Lee) Schommer of Richmond; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ray in 2003; her son, Russell Effertz in 2014; two sisters, Georgina Eichers and Alma Grams; three brothers, Clarence Thielman; and two in infancy and two brothers-in-law. Mike and Ben Plantenberg.

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