Georgiana (Wiest) Macey

Macey Georgiana ``Jo'' (Wiest) Macey, 88, long time res of St. Paul. The hour has come for our dear Mother to rejoin her heavenly family. She was our own ``Auntie Mame'' and an inspiration, & role model, for all of us. Georgiana ``Jo`` was predeceased by her parents, George & Hazel (Cunningham) Wiest, her younger sisters, Ida Mae Shearer & Helen Meath. She is survived by her devoted daughter Josephine ``Josie'' Daly (Denis), her much loved son, Samuel, her grandchildren & great grandchildren, Patrick (Deana) & their son Jacob, Michael (Amber) & their children Mike & Camillie, Sarah Zimhelt (Tony) & their children, Maggie & Joe, James (Laura), Steve (Christina) & their children, Raymond and Maria. Mother is also survived by many wonderful neighbors in St. Paul, & many friends. We would especially like to recognize Barbara McKernon, who did so many wonderful things for Mother over the years, & Jan Fraher who for the past year provided Mother with such excellent care. Geogiana Marie Wiest was born in Mpls., MN on Jan. 24, 1914. She lived in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada with her parents, but returned to St. Paul, in 1924. She graduated from Mechanic Arts High School & attended St. Cloud State Teacher's College for one year. She was called home to St. Paul to raise her sisters, when her mother became mentally ill. Georgiana worked at Paramount Pies, Midway Gardens, and the Covered Wagon & supported her sisters until they were out of School. On July 1, 1941, she married August (Mesi) Macey at St. Mark's Catholic Church in 1991, at 77, she graduated from the University of MN with a Bachelor's Degree with a major in History. At her graduation ceremony she was specially honored, & received a spontaneous standing ovation from her younger classmates. In a special presentation of her diploma, the Dean of the School said, ``She brought new meaning to the words, Continuing Education''. Her Senior paper was published as a book ``The History of the Iron Range''. In 2001 at 87, she was honored in by the MN Historical Society as a Pioneer writer, as the first woman to write about the history of the open pit mines in Northern MN. She was in accomplished pianist, & a long time piano teacher in St. Paul where she served for many years as an election Judge in Ward 4, Precinct 18. There will be a private burial service for the family at Resurrection Cemetery, on Tuesday, the 30th. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill (NAMI), 970 Raymond Ave #105 St Paul MN 55114-1164 Arrangement by: Cremation Society of MN (612) 924-4100

Published on April 28, 2002