Teresa Toenjes

Teresa Ann Toenjes, 74, passed away Friday, September 6, 2019 at her rural St. Marys, KS home.

She was born on December 27, 1944 in Baltimore, the daughter of William and Anne (Timmerman) Brighoff. After graduating from Sykesville High School, MD, she studied and worked as a child care technician at Fr. Bakers Orphanage in Lackawanna, NY. She married Thomas Toenjes at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Baltimore, MD on May 18, 1968. They lived in Grosse Pointe, MI, Overland Park, KS and Leavenworth, KS until finally settling in the St. Marys area in 1979.

Baking her famous raisin bread, canning, making clothes, knitting, making rosaries, taking care of her chickens, guineas and other farm animals, taking daily walks while praying her rosary, and raising her 12 children were some of her favorite activities. Finding new friends and making people feel loved and welcome was second nature to her. She always remembered everyone’s birthdays and made sure to pray for them. A grandmother to everyone, her volunteer work at the St. John Vianney School in Maple Hill and at the America Needs Fatima office in Rossville was much appreciated. She was a lifelong practicing Catholic, a supporter of the American TFP and a member of the St. John Vianney Latin Mass community.

Survivors include her husband Thomas, her 12 children Matthew (Jennifer) Toenjes of Topeka, KS, Kateri (Don) Pomeleo of St. Marys, KS, Henry (Hollie) Toenjes of Belvue, KS, Rebecca (Gary) Penrod of Delia, KS, Joseph (Angeline) Toenjes of Paxico, KS, MaryJane (Gerald) Robinson of Topeka, KS, Christopher (Andrea) Toenjes of Kunheim, France, Louis (Alisha) Toenjes of Erie, CO, Gerard (Celine) Toenjes of Marysville, WA, Joan (Israel) Armenta of St. Marys, KS, Gregory Toenjes of St. Marys, KS, Cecilia (Pedro) Zavala of Maple Hill, KS; 48 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter, her siblings, Katherine (Bill) Koppenhaver, William (Carol) Brighoff, Christopher (Kathy) Brighoff, & Maria Brighoff.

Mrs. Toenjes will lie in repose and family will receive friends on Sunday, September 15, 2019 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at Piper Funeral Home. The rosary will be prayed at 7:00pm. Requiem Mass will be at 9:30 A.M. Monday, September 16, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newbury, KS followed by interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Emmett, KS. A Luncheon will be provided by the Knights of Columbus at the Sacred Heart church hall, in Newbury, KS following.