Monica Mary Strack

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      Sex: F

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Individual Information

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     Birth Date: 7 Feb 1905 - Watkings, MN
    Christening: 
          Death: 6 Oct 2009 - Conway, Faulkner, AR ( at age 104)
         Burial: 12 Oct 2009 - St Joseph Catholic Church, Conway, Faulkner, AR
 Cause of Death: 

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Parents

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         Father: Anton Strack 
         Mother: Mary Anne Nistler 

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Notes

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General:

The following article was found in the Cabin.net on April 16, 2008

That grande dame of Conway, Miss Monica Strack, was feted and honored Friday night by a host of friends at the Faulkner County Senior Citizens Center in Conway. And for good cause: she has reached 103 years of age and it seemed right and fitting for a birthday party celebration.

She was in her element as the music from a group called Route 66 blared out country tunes and songs from the good old days. Once she would have been on the dance floor flitting around but, alas, she says her dancing days are over. Now tapping her foot to the music is the extent of her exuberance.

But that did not dampen her enjoyment of the words of praise and love that inundated the honoree who has spent untold hours of enjoyment over the years dancing, playing bingo and being a part of the essence of the place that caters to elderly folk.

Debra Robinson, the center's director, and her staff turned the place into a fairyland of sorts, installing balloons everywhere, tacking up frills to delight the eye, while presenting food and refreshment in abundance. And a huge birthday cake, of course.

A poem was composed for her, one extolling her virtues, and she was given notice on the marquee that fronts the senior center announcing the "Monica Strack 103rd birthday celebration."

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"When she turned 100, we held a birthday party for her, so this one makes the third and it was bigger and better than all the rest," Robinson exclaimed.
Arriving at the center with her nephew Ronnie Strack in tow (her chauffer at present), the birthday girl was greeted effusively by her many compatriots, especially those who play Bingo with her every Friday at the center.

"It was a wonderful party and so many gifts," she said in the aftermath of the affair. "And I'm going to have another party next Friday at the Knights of Columbus," she enthused. She noted that the actual date of her 103rd year is Friday February 8.

Miss Strack ("I never had time to get married") lives alone, keeps busy reading, watching television, visiting with friends and staying involved in the ministry of her beloved St. Joseph Catholic Church. "I also go to the beauty parlor every other week."

"I quit driving a couple of years ago; I got so nervous with so many cars on the road, and I quit working at the same time," she said.

When she was 90, she turned her thoughts to working as a volunteer at the Conway Regional Medical Center, never assuming that her age would be a bar to employment. And it wasn't, given the fact that she presented herself as a vivacious, caring and loving individual with a sunny disposition who related well with patients and staff. She worked diligently and was hailed by all as an excellent partner.

The year was 1912 when 6-year-old Monica Strack stepped off a train from Oklahoma with her parents to become a Conway fixture. The family, searching for greener pastures, settled down on a farm not far from the Catholic church, and soon young Monica was enrolled in St. Joseph School's second grade. The students were taught by Sisters of Notre Dame.

She recalls the unusual homilies in the church, which developed since some parishioners were of German or French descent, and the sermons reflected that condition. Father Peter Zell was pastor of the church at that time.

"One Sunday, the sermon would be in English followed by the German translation. The next Sunday the sermon would be in English followed by the French version so parishioners listened to homilies in three languages." She said.

Another of her vivid memories centered around the times of the St. Joseph Bazaar. She notes that the first bazaar was held in 1912 and featured homemade items sewed by the girls of the school and many kinds of foodstuffs and livestock offered by the adults.

"Sometimes they auctioned off a bale of cotton. It was fun then and it still is," she says of the bazaar that never lost sight of its primary goal of supporting Catholic education in the city. "It was always a great celebration," she said.

Her attachment to the church has been enduring. When, as a young girl, she joined the kitchen staff of the church at the behest of her parents, she offered protestations that her cooking skills were not sufficient enough for the parish priest and his guests. Stern urging by her parents brought Monica around, and so to please them, she took on the responsibility and began work, agreeing to serve as cook and rectory housekeeper for Father Lachowsky.

Forty-two years later she was still there, virtually running the rectory and other aspects of St. Joseph's. She served as a receptionist and later as a bookkeeper, learning the craft while studying at Arkansas Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas. She remained with the church directing its affairs smoothly and efficiently until she left in 1976 to care for her aged parents.

Asked the reason for her longevity, Strack smiled coyly and said, "I didn't have a husband. I didn't have children. I didn't get married."

OBITUARY:

Monica Mary Strack, passed away Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at her home in Conway. She was born February 7, 1905 in Watkins, Minnesota, the 10th child in a family of 14 children. The family moved to Stillwater, OK until the sandstorms.

On December 26, 1912, Mr. & Mrs. Anton Strack traveled by train bringing all their household goods & seven of their children to Conway. The trip took a day and a half. The remainder of their family traveled by wagon, three hundred and fifty miles and made the trip in thirteen days. Monica was seven at the time.
She was born to the late Anton Strack and Mary Nistler Strack. She is survived by one sister in law, Margaret Strack (Martin) and several nieces and nephews and many great & great nieces & nephews to many to mention by name.

Monica was preceded in death by her six brothers, Louis, Norbert, Florian, Edmund, Lawrence and , Martin and her seven sisters Elizabeth Weisman, Gertrude Weisman, Mary Nabholz, Elenora Lachowsky, Cecelia Bruich, Clara Troillett and Alwina Massery . "Aunt Monica" as she was affectionately known by all of her family & friends worked at St. Joseph Rectory from an early age until she retired after 42 years and was the oldest member of St. Joseph Parish. After retirement she filled her time with volunteering, playing cards, bingo and some travel. At the age of 90 she began volunteering in the critical care waiting room at Conway Regional where she worked until she was 101. Monica was presented an award for being the oldest volunteer in Arkansas by former Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller. At the age of 101, KARK 4 selected her as one of the Community Service Awards honoree. These were just a couple of the many awards that she received through the years. Everyone that knew her, loved her, and her sweet "southern way". She will be greatly missed.

A wake service will be held Sunday, October 11, from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. with visitation to follow until 8:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be at Monday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Pat Bruich, Kenny Strack, Ricky Strack, Gary Strack, Joe Nabholz and Ralph Strack.

Memorials may be made to the Faulkner County Senior Citizens, St. Joseph
Endowment Fund or a charity of the donor's choice.