Bertilla Ann 'Bert' Conroy

Bertilla Ann "Bert" Conroy, 70, died Monday (July 7, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook.

She was born Nov. 6, 1932, in Decatur County, to Albert Nicholas and Martha Amanda (Gilleece) Hickert. She attended Lone Star School and graduated from Jennings High School, Jennings.

On April 22, 1952, she married Thomas Joseph Conroy at New Almelo, Kan. To this union seven children were born. They lived and raised their family in the McCook community.

She was a member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Altar Society, and Piecemakers Quilt Guild. Besides working with the Quilt Guild, she taught many people how to quilt and shared her quilts with the less fortunate by donating them to the Ronald McDonald Houses in Omaha and Denver, and the police department to carry in their cars for injured children. and sharing them with others all over the world. Preceding her in death were her parents; one sister, Carolyn Hickert; and three brothers, William, James and Robert Hickert.

Survivors include her husband, Tom Conroy of McCook; five daughters, Lucinda Baumgartner of Edgewater, Colo., Monica Conroy of Harlingen, Texas, Deborah and husband, Don Leach and Theresa and husband, Dennis Walters of Danbury, and Pam and husband, John Herron, of McCook; two sons, Anthony Conroy and wife, Rebecka, of Scottsbluff and Phillip Conroy of Lincoln; one brother, Don Hickert of McCook; six sisters, Cecilia Kotschwar of McCook, Hilaria and husband, Meridith Huff, of Goodland, Kan., Iolene and husband, Francis Levendofsky, of Belleville, Kan., Wilma and husband, Bernard Farrell, of Mesa, Ariz., Donna and husband, Del Roth, of Marion, Iowa, and Marilyn and husband, Marion Otter of New Almelo; 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial was today, 10 a.m., at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with the Rev. Gary Brethour officiating. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery at McCook.

Memorials may be given in her name.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.