Josephine L. Kress, 97, St. Meinrad

Josephine L. Kress, from St. Meinrad, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at Scenic Hills at the Monastery in Ferdinand. 

Born July 23, 1926, at home in Spencer County, she was the daughter of the late Herman and Brigetta (Goepfrich) Snyder. 

Josephine graduated from Chrisney High School in 1944. She married Leo Martin Kress on September 27, 1946, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Tell City, and together they shared 45 years before his passing in 1992. 

Besides her passion for loving and raising her nine children, Josephine’s work history outside the home included extended periods of employment working at General Electric, Gossards as a seamstress, Best Chairs, being a teacher’s aide at Fulda and St. Meinrad Elementary Schools, and an employee for the Saint Meinrad Abbey Press.

Josephine was a member of St. Meinrad Catholic Church, St. Meinrad American Legion Auxiliary, St. Elizabeth’s Society and the Red Hat Society. She was an avid gardener who loved being outside taking care of her ?owers and her ?sh pond. She also loved playing cards with her friends and family and attending her grandchildren’s sporting events.

She is survived by her children, Stephen Kress (Diana) of Jasper, David Kress (Brenda) of Santa Claus, Janice Hagedorn (Jack) of Georgetown, Mike Kress (Jackie) of Santa Claus, Tony Kress (Ruth) of St Anthony, Philip Kress (Mary) of Dale and Therese Volz (Tony) of Huntingburg; daughter-in-law Kathy Kress of Greensburg; 22 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Kress, and her sons, Donald, Mark, and Kenneth Peter (infant) Kress. 

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, December 30, at 10 a.m. CT at St Paul’s Catholic Church in Tell City. Burial will follow in St Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. 

Visitation will be on Friday, December 29, from 3 to 7 p.m. CT with a Rosary Service and on Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. CT at Zoercher-Gillick Funeral Home. 

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Meinrad American Legion Post 366.

Condolences may be shared at www.zoercher-gillickfuneralhome.net.