Maria C. Weddel

Maria C. (Fredricey) Weddel, 61, of Emerson, Nebraska, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, September 7, 2012 at the On With Life Care Facility in Glenwood, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, September 11 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Emerson with Father Gerald Leise officiating. A visitation will be held on Monday from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Maria was born on February 4, 1951 in North Platte, Nebraska, the daughter of Delmer and Lina (Matteucci) Fredricey. She graduated from St. Patrick's Catholic High School in 1969, and started her college career at North Platte Junior College (This is where she met her future husband). Maria continued her education at Kearney State College, graduating in 1973 with a bachelors of arts in teaching with a K-12 endorsement in Special Education. Maria married Gary Weddel on July 8, 1977 in Kearney. Three children were born to this union. She taught at Junior High Schools in Kearney for the next twenty eight years, first at Horizon Middle School, and then to a new school, Sunrise Middle School. After moving to Emerson due to her husband’s new job, she completed almost another 11 years of teaching. During her career, Maria, continued to accumulate graduate college credits well beyond what it would take to receive a Masters Degree. She also served as a Special Olympics Coach, ran “Mrs, Clause’s Kitchen” (a program for her students that generated monies for her classroom by making holiday treats to order) and serving on countless committees, activities, and outings for her school, all the while raising three children and taking in countless foster children. After moving to Emerson, Maria continued to give of her talents and energy by serving as Emerson-Hubbard Education Association President and Treasurer. She also was in charge of concessions for all school games for the last several years, lead the PayDay club (drug awareness group), served on the Emerson Community Library Board, helped organize the Vacation Bible School in Emerson, as well as serving on a Legislative Committee for the Nebraska Educational Association. Had she been able to continue her career she was elected to be the negotiator for EHEA. Maria was also active in the Emerson American Legion Auxiliary, and was active in Sacred Heart Church and it’s many activities. Maria is survived by her husband Gary of Emerson, mother, Lina Fredricey of Lexington, NE, children: Anna Molina (Jose) and their children, Miguel, Nila and Bella of Kearney, NE, Paula Peterson (Jeff) and their Daughter Via of Wayne, NE, and son Christopher of Wayne, NE. She is also survived by sisters: Patricia (Joe) Medrano and their children Amy (J.R.) Divine and Kayla Thagard, of North Platte, NE, and Elizabeth (Robert) Waterman, and their children Joseph and David of Lexington, NE as well as many nieces and nephews. Maria was preceded in death by her father, Delmer Fredricey, and an infant brother Johnny. Memorials are suggested to the Emerson Food Bank, or the Emerson Public Library.