Alvina (Vina) L. Hueg, age 91, formerly from the Saint Anthony Park neighborhood in St. Paul, MN passed away peacefully on April 8, 2018. She was known for her kind spirit, strong convictions, and her love and loyalty to family and friends. She had a deep faith and unending love and praise for God.

Mass of Christian Burial for Vina will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 14, 2018 at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1265 Ridgway St., Hammond, WI. Visitation 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, April 13, 2018, with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 520 S. 11th St., Hudson, WI. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Saturday. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery, Mendota Heights, MN.

Preceded in death by her parents Rudolph and Alvina Sauer, her sister Grace Sauer, and her daughter Anne Blackman. She is survived by sons Bill (Susan), Tom (Teresa), John (Amy), Paul (Lynn), Mark (Kristin), Mike (Theresea) and Son-in-Law Tom Blackman, grandchildren and great grandchildren Justin (Katrina) Hueg, Lauren and Liam; Leslie (Walter) Turegano, Samantha, Kaitlyn and Ethan; Jennifer Hueg; Matt (Anna) Olson, Lane, Levi, Luella; Ryan Hueg;  Brad Olson; Jason Hueg, Jaymz;  Andrew (Emilse) Hueg, Isabella and Annah; Patrick Hueg; Christopher Hueg; Travis (Laura) Hueg, Dominic, Drake, Colton, Analita; Audrey Hueg; Laura Blackman; Rachael Hueg; Anna Hueg; Claire Hueg; Daniel Hueg; Joseph Hueg, and many nieces, nephews and their families.

Vina was born on November 2, 1926 in Hollis, New York. Grace, her younger sister, joined two years later.   Married in 1949, she raised seven children.  After time in New York and Michigan, St Paul Minnesota became home for the next 58 years in the St Anthony Park neighborhood.

Mom was created to be a mother and was most proud of being one. Being a mother was her vocation. She was always busy with the chores of creating and maintaining a home for her family. From her work both inside the home and outside in the yard, she left her mark as a perfectionist.

In high school she participated in many activities that prepared her for motherhood. She had such great hands! Her handwriting was beautiful, her knitting was so precise, she made beautiful clothes for herself and all of her children including many Halloween costumes.   She knitted 87 Christmas stockings for her family and extended family.   

She created wonderful meals that always came with a dessert. The family favorites were chicken soufflé, chicken soup, homemade pizzas, her made-from-scratch devil’s food cake with her special chocolate, fudge-like, frosting, blueberry kuchen, her apple pie, and the annual Christmas plum pudding with flaming brandy, and topped with rum sauce.  No pie baking day was complete without making cinnamon sugar pie crust squares with the dough scraps.  She brought joy to special events, like birthdays and weddings, with beautifully decorated cakes and cookies.  As school children, our Valentine cards for classmates and teachers were homemade, individually decorated heart-shaped cookies. 

Mom followed each child’s passion including music lessons, sitting in a garage during taxidermy class, rescuing many a bird or turtle, raising backyard city ducks, helping create art and math projects, and building dioramas for book reports.

Vina spearheaded and formed the original library at Corpus Christi Grade School in Roseville MN.  As the librarian for many years, she creatively brought the joy of reading and learning to many children.  She joined Children’s Home Society of Minnesota in the mid-1970s, first working in the Communications Department and later as the Lead Receptionist, greeting hundreds of clients and co-workers each week.  Vina retired in 1994.

Vina loved to volunteer for organizations and school activities and held leadership roles on Parish Council, Diocesan Council, and Cretin Band Parents Association.

After retiring, Nana was often found spending time with the grandchildren.  She created special relationships knowing their individual interests and how to engage with them. Her eyes would light up when sharing stories of her childhood.   She enjoyed countless games of Parcheesi, chess and Chinese checkers.  Nana loved taking the grandchildren to Como Park to ride the Carousel, the same Carousel she rode years before with her children at the State Fair.  The grandchildren were amazed that Nana knew Santa personally when he made an early appearance at the family party.  How Santa knew so many details about each grandchild still may have some wondering.

The family is forever grateful for the wonderful services and compassionate, loving care provided during the past 2 ½ years by the staff at Hammond Health Services in Hammond, WI.

Vina, Mom, Nana did so many things for her family and community so effortlessly, that many things went un-noticed, until one reflects on what she did and who she was.  For that we celebrate an ordinary life lived in an extraordinary manner with great love and focus on others.  May her legacy live forever in our hearts and actions.

Memorials preferred to the family to be shared with Vina’s favorite charities.