Irene A. Nicolai

Irene A. Nicolai, age 98 of Hampton, died peacefully at home on Monday evening, August 21, 2017. Irene Ann, the daughter of Frank and Mary (Sommers) Schlekewy, was born on May 11, 1919, in Eden, South Dakota. She attended grade school in Eden and graduated with the Webster High School class of 1937. Irene then continued her education in beauty school in Aberdeen, South Dakota, but had to give up her career due to chemical allergies. She came to Minnesota in 1939 by bus where she worked briefly in St. Paul before accepting a job at Cozy Corners in Hampton. On November 28, 1940, she was united in marriage to Herbert P. Nicolai at St. Mathias Catholic Church in Hampton. Irene was a longtime homemaker and also worked at Emporium in St. Paul, as well as Meyer Co. in Hastings as a sales clerk. She later quit in 1980 to care for Herb when he was diagnosed with cancer. Following his death, Irene began working at St. Mathias Catholic School where she cooked hot lunch for the students, and eventually retired when she was 85. Irene loved to sew, cook, and bake. She will forever be remembered for the many, many pies she baked and gave away to family and friends. She also enjoyed making lots of jams and jellies through all the fruit seasons. Irenes passion for sewing allowed her to mend the Hampton Cardinal Baseball Teams uniforms, as well as the most delicate embroidery stitches on countless dish towels and tablecloths, many of which have been gifted and donated to St. Mathias for fundraising. Irene was a dedicated member of St. Mathias and enjoyed volunteering throughout Hampton. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Herbert; step-father, Joe Kientz; her siblings, Ed, Robert, William, and Marjorie Soucek; and by her son-in-law, Gerald Irrthum. Irene is survived by her three daughters, Mary K. Irrthum, Nancy (David) Radman, and Sallie (Kevin) Scott; her six grandchildren, Jeffrey, Jeralyn, Jeremy, Wendy, Aimee, and Ethan; her eight great grandchildren, Chaz, Cayla, Allyssa, Trace, Amber, David, Serena, and John; and her one great-great grandson, Riley. Irene was also blessed with many "adopted" children from other close family friends, as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 24, 2017, at St. Mathias Catholic Church in Hampton, with Father Cole Kracke officiating. Interment will follow at the parish cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home Cremation Services of Hastings, and will continue for one hour prior to Mass at church on Thursday morning. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Mathias Catholic Church in Hampton in her memory. Arrangements are being completed by Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home Cremation Services of Hastings.