Monica C. (Mezera) Bay

Long time Steuben and Cassville resident, Monica C. (Mezera) Bay, 98, died peacefullly surrounded by family,
Sunday August 6, 2023, at Prairie Maison Care Facility in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin.
Monica was born March 29,1925, at home in Bridgeport Township, Wisconsin, to Charles and Lucy (Wall)
Mezera.
In 1949, Monica married Lawrence Bay, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Prairie Du Chien; eventually settling
in Citron Valley near Steuben to run a dairy farm and raise a family.
After graduating from Seneca High School Monica worked as a nurse's aide at Grandview Hospital in
LaCrosse. Prior to her marriage she worked as a telephone operator at the Prairie Du Chien telephone office.
Later, when her youngest were getting close to school age she worked as a teacher’s aide in the Headstart
program for the Wauzeka-Steuben School District. She was also employed briefly by Land’s End of Boscobel.
While raising her family Monica worked for Field Enterprises as a sales representative for World Book
Encyclopedia. Together Monica and Lawrence also worked as Shaklee distributers for much of their married
life. Above and beyond all those jobs outside the farm, her greatest life's vocation was working side by side
with her husband in all aspects of managing their family farm and raising their nine children. Monica's creative
spirit was evident in the many wreaths, children's toys, quilts and numerous projects she constructed throughout
the years with the help of her husband. Even in later years she continued to do the things she loved, toil the soil
in the garden, sew, craft and bake which has left us all with lasting wonderful memories. In her 90's mother
was finally blessed with great grandchildren, they became her greatest joy!!
Monica was a long time active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Seneca. During their years in the
dairy industry she was an active member in the National Farmers Organization, serving as the public relations
chair and editor of the NFO Newsletter. For over 50 years she was a member of the Daugherty-Larsen
American Legion Post 446 Auxiliary of Steuben. While her children where in school she was a member of the
PTA of Wauzeka-Steuben School.
She is survived by her nine children and 29 grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren;
sons Ted (Kris) of Steuben, Mark of Boscobel, Jeff (Vilma) of Montgomery, AL, Brad (Donna) of Boscobel,
Tom (Susan) of Sun Prairie, Kevin (Dianne) of Hartland, Lucy (Tim) Walter of Brown Deer , Patty (Steve)
Bowden of Cassville, and Annette (Bob) Hoye of Fort Atkinson; and by her sister Beth Scheckel.
Monica was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Bay, parents Lucy and Charles Mezera, son-in-law,
Tom Okey, brothers and their wives Clem and Catherine, Dan and Phyllis, Chad and Pat, Winnie and Sharon
Mezera, her sister and husband Mary and Harry Shedivy, brother-in-law, Paul Scheckel, her brother-in-law and
sister-in-law Harlan and Nels Bay. 

 A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday August 10,2023 at 12:00 P.M.
 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Seneca, Wisconsin. Father  Tom Huff officiating. Burial in St. Patrick "s Catholic Cemetery,

  Friends may call on Wednesday August 9, 2023 from 4:00-8:00 P.M, at the Kendall Funeral Home in Boscobel. There

will be no visitation in Seneca. Online condolences can be sent to www.kendallfuneralservice.com

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