Florence Kleis Caturia

Florence Kleis Caturia, age 97, of Hastings died Sunday, November 2, 2008. Florence was born in Hastings on February 24, 1911 to Peter and Regina (Zilliox) Fasbender and was a 1928 graduate of Hastings High School. She married Henry F. Kleis on September 9, 1930, and when he joined the Navy, Florence became the first woman mail carrier for the Hastings post office when she took over his position for Rural Route #2, serving the Nininger, Vermillion, and Empire area. Henry died January 12, 1967. Florence had been a member of the Daughters of Isabella, the Council of Catholic Women, and the American Legion Auxiliary. Her hobbies included golfing, quilting, gardening, painting, and traveling. She married Clinton C. Caturia on May 1, 1971. They shared many years together with their joined families and spent many enjoyable winters in Texas. He preceded her on May 31, 2008. Florence was also preceded in death by her parents, 3 sisters, 1 brother, and son-in-law David Truax. Her survivors include her children Jerome (Florence) Kleis, Mitzi (Tom) Rouse, Roger Kleis, Mary (Richard) Bacon, Charlotte Truax, Kathy (LeRoy) Rother, Hank (Susan) Kleis, Gretchen (Mike) Sieben, David (Sara) Kleis; 32 grandchildren, 57 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren; siblings Regina Hoffman, Marg Gerlach, Peter Fasbender; and the Caturia families. The funeral mass, officiated by Fr. James Perkl will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, November 7, 2008 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2035 W. 15th St., Hastings. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery. The pallbearers are Tom Rouse, Mike Kleis, John Kleis, Rick Bacon, Dean Truax, Joe Rother, David Sieben, and Drew Kleis. The visitation will be held on Thursday from 4-8 P.M. at the Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home, 201 E. 7th Street, Hastings and also one hour prior to the funeral mass at church on Friday.