Mother of Beth ’70, Judith ’77, Lisa ’74, Lynne 65, Suzen ’67 Toerne passed away

Aileen TOERNE

TOERNE Aileen 2/25/1927 – 6/1/2012 Aileen Toerne died at the age of 85 on Friday, June 1, 2012, surrounded by loving family. She was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she was youngest child of Kenneth and Genevieve Betts. She had eleven children, the oldest was a girl, then a boy, then a girl, then a boy, then a girl, then a boy, then a girl, then a boy, then a girl, then twin boys. She called it quits when they started coming in pairs. She was an extraordinary mother. It was her claim to fame, and she loved it! Shortly after their wedding, Richard and Aileen moved from Fort Wayne to Ohio and the family called Maumee home for over fifty years. She was a proud stay at home mom who created many lasting memories for her children. She was a great cook, and holiday dinners were her specialty. She and Richard loved the holidays and the Toerne home in Maumee was the site of huge family gatherings on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, birthdays, graduations, you name it! She embraced her role as mother, (and mother-in-law), grandmother, and great-grandmother, and the parties just kept getting bigger and bigger. There was always room for another plate at Aileen’s table, and you better save room for dessert! She lived her life to serve others and family always came first with Aileen. She and Richard had a love for travel and new experiences that started when they visited Cuba in the fifties. It continued with many cross country drives in later years, as they visited their children and grandchildren across the country. A talented seamstress and a member of the Maumee Sewing Club, Aileen enjoyed sitting at her sewing machine and was known for lovely prom, bridesmaid, and wedding dresses (as well as lots of fashionable doll clothes!). She was also a proud member and officer of the Maumee Mother’s Club. She was an active member of St Joseph’s Catholic Church during her years in Maumee, and had served as president of their Altar and Rosary society. Aileen also served the church as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. Aileen loved to dance with her husband Richard and she spent many a Saturday dancing the night away with friends from the Cadence Club which she and Richard helped to establish. She is survived by her children, Lynne Toerne of Santa Cruz, CA, Rick (Snow) of Scottsdale, AZ, Suzen Toerne, Steve (Cindy), Beth Basilius (Dwight) of Santa Cruz, CA, Kevin (Sara), Lisa Basting (Chris), David (Lynne), Judy FitzGibbons (James) of Trumbull, CT, Thomas (Kelly), and Tim (Laurie). She is also survived by thirty one grandchildren, and twenty one great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Richard; her parents; her brother, Neal Betts, and sister, Marion Thome. Family and friends may call at the Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant St. Maumee, on Thursday, June 7, 2012, from 3:00-8:00 p.m. with a scripture service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will begin in the funeral home on Friday at 9:00 a.m., followed by the Funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Maumee. The family would like to thank all the caregivers at Perrysburg Care and Rehab Center for their years of kindness and gentle compassion and suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Aileen’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association of Northwest Ohio, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Campus Improvement Campaign, or any charity of the donor’s choice . Online condolences may be made atwalkerfuneralhomes.com Published in Toledo Blade from June 3 to June 6, 2012