Aurelia A. Heinen, 101, of Seneca, died on December 5, 2015 at Crestview Nursing and Residential Living in Seneca.

She was born on September 24, 1914, on a farm north of Seneca, to William M. and Elizabeth Hulsing Rettele. When she was 5 years old, the family moved to a farm northwest of Kelly where she grew up. She attended St. Bede’s School and helped on the family farm.

On January 16, 1935, she married Joseph J. Heinen at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly. They lived and farmed at Baileyville until 1943, when they moved southeast of Seneca. They moved into Seneca in 1963. In the late 1970’s she worked at the Paramount Cleaners for three years.

She also worked at the Sts. Peter and Paul School Lunch Room. She was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, St. Ann’s Altar Society, and the Sts. Peter and Paul Quilting Group. She loved to garden, cook, play cards, quilt and crochet.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Joe on November 4, 1996; a grandson, Brian Rilinger on September 22, 1964, great grandson Jeremy Schottel on January 21, 2008; brothers, Ignatius Rettele on November 12, 1987, Matthias Rettele on July 31, 1992, Anthony Rettele on December 11, 1992, William Rettele on May 31, 1994 and Wilfred Rettele on February 15, 2007; and sisters, Edith Bjelland on September 19, 1998, Marcella Mathewson on April 1, 1999 and Irmena Wietharn on February 20, 2006.

She is survived by her children, Gerald (Janice) Heinen of Topeka, Karen (Paul) Rilinger of Seneca and Marilyn (Gary) Evans of Seneca; sisters, Ali Rose Winterscheidt, Dorothy (E.J.) Kohake Feichtinger and Betty (Joe) Altenhofen all of Seneca; 13 grandchildren;15 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Tuesday, December 8th at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.Mass of Christian burial will be 11 AM Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at Sts. Peter & Paul Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery, and sent in care of the family.