CENTRALIA — Aurelia “Ree” E. Sauer (nee Hilpert), age 94, passed away on Friday, September 30, 2022, at Centralia Manor.
Ree was born on November 8, 1927, and raised in Belleville, Illinois, the daughter of Charles and Mary Hilpert. She met Charles “Chuck” Sauer while in high school and married him on October 8, 1949. They raised their family in Highland, Illinois before moving to Centralia in 2014 to be near their son. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her two sisters and her two brothers.
Ree is survived by her son David Sauer and wife Sheri Sauer of Centralia, and her daughter Diane Sauer and husband Kenneth Noll of Storrs, Connecticut. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Colin D. Sauer, MD and wife Molly Sauer of Washington, IL, Rachel Sauer of Washington, DC, Kimberly (Sauer) Romero and husband Tim Romero of St. Charles, MO, Jake Noll of Los Angeles, and Erika Noll of San Diego. She was 6 great-grandchildren, Joseph, Isabella, and Violet Sauer and Gabriel, Adrian and Micah Romero.
After high school, Ree worked in a clerical job at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville. She later worked in another clerical job at the Norfolk Naval Shipyards in Portsmouth, VA where her husband was based, having been called up from the Marine Reserves. Ree described that time as one of the happiest of her life.
She was a devoted mother and an accomplished seamstress. She returned to work outside the home, sewing tablecloths and napkins at Artex, to put both of her children through college and law school.
She enjoyed being surrounded by her grandchildren and later by her great-grandchildren. She adored seeing them play and would occasionally join them in a pillow fight or silly antics. One of her son’s cats, Simba, delighted in coming to her apartment to spend the day lounging while she doted on him.
Ree was always there for friends and family. She knew how to tell it like it was and gave practical, straightforward advice. When anyone came to visit, she was ready with a beautiful smile, warm hug and a bowl of Dove chocolates. Her children often heard from people who knew her that “your mother is so sweet.” And she was.
Per her request, cremation rites will be accorded and a family memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Centralia Cultural Society or the Centralia Humane Society and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, who is honored to be of service to the Sauer family. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home Facebook page.