It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Mom, Grandma, and Soulmate to our Dad after an unexpected illness. Just 3 short days before, on December 1, it was our parents 61st Wedding Anniversary, our Mom giggled as she awoke from taking a nap as we Congratulated them both – neither remembering it was their special day 61 years ago.
Ida is survived by her husband, Alfred; daughter, Connie; sons, Frank, Robert, Jerome, and Anthony; along with 7 Grandchildren and 3 Great Grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Anna and Ludwig; sisters, Klara, Maria, Louise, Helga; and a brother, Robert.
Ida was a hard worker; during her childhood and teenage years she worked tirelessly on the family farm. She went to neighboring towns to help in cafes and eventually she was working in private homes and cooking for the families.
In 1960, while Alfred was stationed in the area during the war, he met Ida as she was working in a small café. When he returned to the states, he wrote letters to her and eventually she agreed to come to America via ship. They married in 1961 and raised their 5 children in Wichita. Ida’s hard work did not stop when she came to America. She recently mentioned to one of her sons about how she was out in the front yard pulling weeds when dad come home from work. Alfred said to her "hey Mom you know you are not supposed to be doing that over here". Ida's response "I don’t care what others think of me out here pulling weeds; my place is going to look nice".
She touched the lives of anyone who was in her presence - she never knew a stranger. She loved to chat and gave so much to so many. Many of her children’s friends will remember her due to her German accent - as well as yelling “you darn kids better listen". Or if you were lucky, you had the opportunity to eat her delicious German potato salad. When she cooked and you ate at her home... you were told to eat more at least 6 times before leaving the table “ahhh you need to eat more, you didn’t eat enough”.
She took so much pride in her beautiful flowers in the yard and grew a garden not only for herself but for our neighbors and family friends. Even at the age of 89, she planted and took care of the flowers when she could. There wasn’t a summer that didn’t go by that the colorful flowers were carefully placed to match the well manicured green grass Alfred tended.
We will always remember her smile, her caring, loving soul, the cooking, our long chats, and the many times that she squeezed our hands in her last final hours.
We do know she was okay with leaving and is at peace... she has so many family members and friends that welcomed her Home with open arms on Sunday, December 4, 2022.
Everyone loves and will miss you. We are all looking forward to seeing you smiling when we meet again. In the meantime, we are taking care of dad and each other as you taught us all to do.
LOVE YOU BUNCHES!!!
Rosary will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 9, 2022. Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 9 both at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2801 S. Seneca St. Wichita. Funeral Procession to follow to her final resting place at Resurrection Cemetery, 1640 N. Maize Rd., Wichita.
**Our mom LOVED flowers… she will not mind being covered in them. In lieu of flowers you may donate to help assist our Dad with the Funeral costs**
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ResthavenMortuary-Cemetery.com for the Flax family.
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