Cecilia 'Ceal' Theresa Jennings, 85

Cecilia "Ceal" Theresa Jennings, 85, loving mother, grandmother, and friend "went to her eternal life with God" on Dec. 29, 2005.

She was born Aug. 4, 1920, in Cedarburg, Wis., to George and Rose Oswald. Her mother passed away when Cecilia was 9 years of age and she was lovingly raised by her father, George, and stepmother, Eleanor.

When Cecilia was 21, she moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to begin working for the Civil Aeronautics Board. Moving away from her family home was bold and brave for a single woman in 1941. She later moved to San Francisco, where she continued her secretarial career with a top executive of Pan Am. This was where she met the love of her life, Al.

On Dec. 7, 1946, Ceal married Al in Alameda, Calif. They continued to reside in California, where they worked and raised their three daughters. Ceal was a "working Mom" before there was such a term, yet her career never interfered with her dedication and devotion to her husband and children. Her career evolved from secretarial to probate paralegal, a career she continued for the past 40 years until her sudden death.

Ceal and her husband moved to Bigfork, in 1991, where she continued to share her husband's love of flying and was his lifetime "co-pilot." Together they enjoyed many aeronautical adventures in their prized Cessna 170B. She was very active with her husband in many organizations related to flying. After Al's death she accepted his position as Wing Commander of Montana for the WWII Glider Pilot's Association.

In addition to her hobbies of reading, solving the weekly New York Times crossword puzzle, and playing computer solitaire, she was an avid bridge player her entire adult life. Ceal never missed an opportunity to play bridge and was active in local weekly bridge groups.

She was a devoted member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Kalispell. Ceal's deep religious faith was the foundation and motivation to live her life in preparation for the day God would call her home to her eternal reward. Her charm, sweetness, laughter, and love of others will be missed by everyone who knew and loved her. "We remain comforted that she is with God, her husband, and all her family that preceded her in death."

Ceal is survived by her three daughters and one granddaughter, Jane Ellery Jennings of Riverside, Calif., Joani Eisentraut, her husband, William "Ike", and daughter, Cayce, of Columbia Falls, and Rose "Pinkie" Cutrone and her husband, Lazzaro "Larry" of Bigfork; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews, both in the U.S. and Germany.

Ceal was preceded in death by her husband, Al; granddaughter, Jessica Eisentraut; her parents; her brother, Bill Oswald; and sister, Rose Oswald Creeden.

At Ceal's request, visitation will be private followed by a Rosary service at the Buffalo Hill Funeral Home at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5. The funeral Mass celebration will be held at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Kalispell at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, with Father Victor Langhans as the celebrant. Reception in the church basement will follow. Ceal will be laid to rest with Al at Montana Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison (near Helena), on Monday, Jan. 9, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in the name of Cecilia Jennings to St. Matthew's Catholic Church, 602 S. Main St., Kalispell, MT 59901 or Bigfork QRU, 810 Grand Ave., Bigfork, MT 59911.