Theresa Rose Margotta, 86, formerly of Kellogg

 Theresa Rose Margotta, 86 died on Thursday, December 3, 2015 at Madonna Towers, after a valiant 8-year fight with Multiple Myeloma. Her strong will to live, unwavering faith in God, and the love and prayers of family, friends, and many supporters carried her through her journey.
 Theresa Rose Freese was born on June 21, 1929 in Kellogg, MN to Albert and Esther Freese. She graduated from St. Felix High School in Wabasha. She married Richard Margotta in September of 1951 in St. Joachim Catholic Church in Plainview, MN. Together they celebrated 43 years of marriage. Over the years, they raised 10 children. Theresa was a devout Catholic and a lifelong member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and St. Jude Rosary Group. She lived her life with kindness for everyone and forgiveness of others. She worked as a cook at St. Francis School for over 25 years and enjoyed seeing her family and friends daily. She loved to travel and visited many states across the country and traveled to Italy shortly after her retirement for the trip of a lifetime. Her passion was fishing and she would spend many days and weeks at her camper in Wabasha fishing with her brothers, sisters and family. Theresa loved spending time with her 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren.
 She is survived by her children: Mary Hovda of Rochester, Dick (Ed) of Minneapolis, Dave of Bloomington, Jerry (Lynn) of Farmington, Mark (Karen) of Oronoco, John of Rochester, Bob (Terri) of Rochester, Joe of Ramsey, Barb Johnston of Rochester, a son-in-law Gary Gunderson of Rochester, a brother Al (Karen) of Pennsylvania, sisters, Josephine Ingram of Oklahoma, Margie Pollitt of Ohio, Maxine (George) Kubat of Rochester and Joan Larson of Virginia.
 She is preceded in death by her husband Richard “Tony”, a daughter Kathy Gunderson, son-in-laws Al Hovda and Charlie Johnston, a daughter-in-law Tami Margotta, her brother Clem Freese, sisters Bernie Markus, Mary Kennebeck, Eleanor Freese, and her mother and father.
 The family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers and support from her doctors and staff at Mayo Clinic, the staff at Madonna Meadows/Towers, and Ed and Joleen Fujan.
 The Funeral Mass for Theresa was held at 1:00pm on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Father Mark McNea officiating. Visitation was held from 4:00pm until 7:00pm on Monday, December 7, 2015 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the Mass. A Rosary will be prayed starting at 7:00pm on Monday evening. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery Rochester.
 Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com