Lucy Marie Wilde, 89, of San Angelo, Tx passed away on December 19th, 2021. Lucy was born near Westphalia in Falls County, TX to Anna (Hoelscher) and Louis Wilde. In 1941, the family moved to Wall. Lucy decided in the 5th grade that she wanted to be a librarian, recalling the “joy, serenity, and excitement” she felt whenever she visited her school library. After graduating from Eola High School Lucy spent three years with the Sisters of Social Service in their convent in Los Angeles before deciding against entering religious life. Lucy then spent 7 years working at the Catholic Library in Kansas City, during which time she also obtained her undergraduate degree from Avila College, majoring in English Literature and minoring in history. Shortly after receiving her degree she received an internship at Rosary College in Illinois that enabled her to finish a Masters in Library Science. From 1967 until 1996 Lucy worked at the Kansas State University Library, working mainly at the reference department help desk, helping students with their research in the days before computers became available, a job she found both interesting and enjoyable. While working as a KSU librarian, she also obtained a masters in history and managed her local parish’s library. Aside from her work, Lucy loved traveling both domestically and abroad, beginning with a summer spent in Germany. In 1996 Lucy retired from her job at the KSU library and returned to Texas, moving to Austin to help her niece Mary Louise Michalewicz Phillips and her husband with their three young daughters. Lucy and her great-nieces enjoyed many activities together, such as learning to play the piano and listening to classical music. While helping raise her great-nieces, Lucy was very active in the local parish, visiting the sick and staying with them while their spouses went to mass. She was also heavily involved in the church’s online prayer circle. One of Lucy’s favorite mottos, and one she tried to live by, is taken from the writings of John Powell, SJ, where he writes that while overcome with nerves before giving a speech, God seemed to tell him “I don’t need you to impress people; I need you to love them.” In 2016, Lucy moved to San Angelo to live with her twin sister Louise. Lucy and Louise enjoyed reconnecting after many years of living apart.
Lucy was a member of St Therese Parish of Carlsbad and a member of Catholic Daughters. Lucy was preceded in death by her parents, her twin sister, Louise Michalewicz and her sister Bernadina Knipp, her brothers, Msgr Alvin Wilde, Louis Jr. Wilde, Werner Wilde, and Lawrence Wilde, sister-in-law Lorene Wilde and brother-in-laws Leroy Buxkemper and Ernest Michalewicz. Lucy is survived by her sister Ludwina Buxkemper and brothers Hubert Wilde, Andrew Wilde and wife Charlene, Lee Ray Wilde and wife Jean, Gerald Wilde and wife Linda, sister-in-law, Shirley Wilde and brother-in-law, Bill Knipp. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
A rosary will be held at 6pm Wednesday, December 22th, 2021 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM Thursday, December 23rd at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church with Father Josh Gray officiating. Interment will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. The family would like to thank Deacon Jesse Martinez for his many visits to Lucy and her many long-time care-givers, especially Juanita Guajardo.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to Msgr Alvin Wilde Seminarian Scholarship Fund, Diocese of San Angelo, P.O. Box 1829, San Angelo TX, 76902-1829 or a charity of your choice.
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Concho Hearts Hospice for their loving care during this time.
