Elizabeth Ann Dietrich (Thielen)

Elizabeth Ann Theresa (Thielen) Dietrich went to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 2, 2019, at her home surrounded by family. She was 96 years old. Elizabeth Ann was born September 25, 1923, daughter to Fred and Hattie Thielen, and sister to Robert Fredrick and Mary Josephine. She was born in Chanute, Kansas and attended 1st grade in a one room school house. In 1930, the family moved to Ottawa, Kansas. Elizabeth met and married Paul J. Dietrich at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ottawa, June 2, 1947. Elizabeth and Paul moved to Kansas City, Mo and were blessed with six children. She was the stay at home mom and only worked later in life following the passing of her husband, Paul in 1970. Elizabeth and her sister, Mary Jo, were inseparable and spent many hours playing cards when they weren’t traveling or visiting the local casino. She loved to travel and mapped out her adventures. She used to say she was six inches short of traveling around the world. One of her most memorable trips was to Rome where Pope John Paul II touched her hand. Elizabeth loved to write and completed her 1st book, My Rosary, The Decades of My Life 1923 – 2003, which exemplifies how important family was to her. She was working on completing her next book about the next ten years.
She was a spiritual woman of strong faith and unwavering belief. While at St. Michael’s church, Elizabeth was a member of the choir, Altar Society and Eucharist minister. From then on, she would continue to participate and/or lead many organizations such as Our Lady of Fatima Choir, DCCW, NCCW, World Apostolate of Fatima, Tabernacle Society, Secular Franciscans, and Consecrated Widows. Elizabeth had a long and blessed life. She loved to tell others the way to a long life is to “always tell the truth and love Jesus more today than yesterday.” Elizabeth enjoyed being employed until the last few months of her life calling her “phone family” to request donations for various charities. She was very proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was ready to be reunited with family that was taken
too soon: first born girl, Mary Elizabeth (1952), husband, Paul, (1921-1970), youngest son, Thomas James (1955-1974). Other family members preceding her include her parents, Fred and Hattie Thielen; brother, Robert Thielen, and sister, Mary Jo Kelley. Elizabeth leaves behind four children: David P, Dietrich, Modesto, CA, Donald Joseph (wife, Jan), St. Louis, MO, Julia A Arnold, (husband, Paul), Independence, MO, Paula S Swafford, (husband, Allen) Independence, MO: seven grandchildren; Kelly (Gini) Dietrich, Katie Dietrich, Jessica (Tim) Faber, Martha Dietrich, Steven Swafford, Sarah Noble, Jeffrey Swafford: seven great grandchildren; Scott, Ava, Carson, Aiden, Addison, Paige, and Sammy, along with many nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.
A visitation will be held Saturday, Nov 16 at 10:00 am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 3736 Lee’s Summit Road, Independence, MO.
Contributions may be made in Elizabeth’s memory to: Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Eucharist, 2100 North Noland Road, Independence, MO 64050.