Mary Catherine Gress

Mary Catherine (Madden) Gress was born July 23rd, 1933 in Waseca County, Minnesota and passed on June 14th, 2024 in Elk Grove, California. She was born to Roy and Mary (Collins) Madden and raised on the family farm near Waldorf Minnesota. She attended District 20 (The Pink School House) from kindergarten through 8th grade and graduated from Waldorf High School in 1951. 

She worked at EF Johnson Co. in Waseca from 1951-1957 then she moved to California. She met her husband, Robert Gress, while working at Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. in Sunnyvale, California. They were married in November 1957 and lived in Fremont, California where they raised their 3 children. 

Robert passed away in March 1996, and she retired from Lockheed in June 1998. She moved to Elk Grove, California in October 2001 where she was an active member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Elk Grove Garden Club, Historical Society, Senior Center, and various luncheon groups. 

Her family was most important to her. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. 

She is survived by her children: Janine of Sumner, Washington, Raymond (Britt) & Richard (Erin) of Elk Grove and her grandchildren: Matthew & Shannon Grantski, Brandes, Colin, Caitlyn & Jordan Gress. 

She is also survived by her sister Dorothy Harguth and brother Patrick (Sharon) Madden, sister-in-law Sarah Madden and brother-in-law Sylvan Andersen, and many nieces and nephews all residing in Minnesota. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Bonnie Andersen, brother Peter Madden, half-brother Richard Nelson, and brother-in-law John Harguth. 

Services will be held at St. Joseph Parish, 9961 Elk Grove Florin Road, Elk Grove, California 95624 on Tuesday July 2, 2024 at 11:00 am. There will be a rosary prayer at 10:00 am if you wish to attend. A reception to immediately follow services in the Social Hall at St. Joseph’s.