Aurelie E. (Moore) Jerome

Aurelie Elizabeth (Moore) Jerome died Friday afternoon, May 8, 2015, at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake, North Dakota. She was 100 years old. Just on March 13 of this year she had celebrated in good health and amazing spirit the occasion of her Centennial birthday at a wonderful party with over 150 family and friends. Aurelie was a strong, loving and gracious person. She was the 9th. out of 11 children born to David C. and Josephine A.(Ritten) Moore on March 13, 1915 in Powers Lake, ND at the time of no electricity, no running water and travel by buggy. At the age of 13 they moved to Devils Lake, ND where she attended 8th. Grade at St. Mary’s Academy, then graduated from Devils Lake Central High School. During and after High School she babysat, worked at Woolworths, the Telephone Company and Montgomery Wards. Her childhood was the best of memories playing games like ‘Kick the can’, Anti-I-Over, climbing trees, running races and in the winter ice skating on the lake with bonfires and roasting wieners. She was a joyful child and her nick- name was ‘little Spitfire’. When older she loved to go to dances, ride bikes to Lakewood to have picnics with friends, play basketball, tennis, swim & roller skate. With a big family they had chores and rules: Aurelie had to wash the chimneys of the oil lamps and hang socks to dry on the stove. The rules were to always be honest, on time, to respect each other, don’t gossip, and be neat and clean. If you got in trouble you had to sit on the same chair until you said you were sorry. “That is why it is so easy for me to say I’m sorry”, she said. Her brothers and sisters were beloved playmates. “Even though we were poor we never knew it because we had family and so many happy times together.” Aurelie married William A. Jerome in Los Angeles, CA January 4th. 1939 and then they moved back to Devils Lake to raise their family of 9 children which fulfilled her dream of marriage and a big family. Nearly 60 years they were together and Bill died Nov. 11, 1997. Bill owned and operated the Jerome Wholesale Co. and Aurelie was the consummate homemaker and mother. She carried on her mother’s tradition of keeping a tight ship at home with chores, rules, prayer, and yet lots of family fun. Aurelie’s home was always warm, loving and welcoming. She was a wonderful cook….evening meal time with the family started at 6:00 p.m. around the dining room table, and was guarded from television or phone calls to make it special. Picnics and going to the lake were fun family activities, and holidays were very festive with lots of relatives joining together with the card table up and a game of Bridge going. Aurelie was a very positive person and didn’t expect people to be perfect. She was a gracious host and she loved company in her home and a heartfelt conversation with you. Thank you for the visits, especially the last years of her life. She was a founding member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority group in Devils Lake. She enjoyed reading and the Shakespeare Club, playing duplicate bridge, St. Joseph Altar Society, and in 2009 Aurelie was awarded the Devils Lake “Unsung Hero Community Award” for the very thing she loved…being an outstanding homemaker, mother and wife. Having their 9th child Paul born with Down Syndrome in 1959 drove them to start the ‘Association for Retarded Citizens’ in Devils Lake, the first organization of its kind in this area for special needs people. Ours was a home of great Catholic faith. Prayer and a relationship with God was of uppermost importance visible to us by mom’s example. God was her idol. Her faithfulness has been passed down to the family, and we can truly say…. Her Children Call Her Blessed. Aurelie is survived by nearly 90 direct descendants. Children: Gail (Bob) Phares of Raleigh, NC, Art (Mary Beth) Jerome of Dickinson, ND, Mike (Marty) Jerome of Audubon, MN, Sheila (Les, deceased) Hannesson of Audubon, MN, Chuck (Sherry) Jerome, Devils Lake, Trudy (Jeff) Gallagher of Larchwood, IA, Pete (Pam) Jerome and Paul Jerome all of Devils Lake, ND; 24 Grandchildren and 61 Great-Grandchildren Rebecca (Tena) Phares & Joel of Washington, DC; Lisa (Dave) Outterson, & girls Kayla & Isabella of Raleigh, NC; Amy (Steve) Courtney & sons Casey, James, Joseph of Savage, MN; Bill (Dawn) Jerome & children Taylar, Hunter, Levi of Dickinson, ND; Arthur (Becky) Jerome & children AJ, Grace, Charlie, Lucas, Isaac of Bismarck, ND; Lisa (Jeff) Nagel & boys Devin, Brady, Taylor, Riley of Victor, MT; Michael (Michelle) Jerome & children Trevor, Tanner, Kailey, Gabe of Mobridge, SD; Mark (Kristie) Jerome & children Jaden, Jace, Hallie, Hannah of Pierre, SD; Tom (Kristen) Jerome & children Austin & Nicholas of Lead, SD; Mollie (Ryan) Endres & boys Jack & Gunner of West Fargo, ND; Leslie Fisher & children Hannah & Nicholas of Marshaltown, IA, Morgan of Fargo, ND, & Ryan of Bismarck, ND; Vince (Margie) Hannesson & sons Will & Peter of Lake Park, MN; Michelle (Jon) Kaiser & boys Elijah & Noah of Garrison, IA; Peter Hannesson & sons Avery, Aidan, Oliver of Port Washington, NY; Philip (Katie) Jerome & children Charlie & Sylvie of Devils Lake, ND; Natalie (Mark) Buckley & son Simon of Bend, OR; Robyn (Brady) Riggin, of Devils Lake, ND; Aurelie (Steve) Krauss & children Jude, Ben, Ella of Round Lake, IL; Erin (Kevin) Klau & daughters Maggie, Sydney of Niwot, CO; Roy (Frannie) Gallagher & children Ellie, Jacob, Macie, Chase of Elmhurst, IL; Aly (Spence) Warren of Chicago, IL; Amber (Jamie) Leevers & sons Thomas, Patrick, James of Devils Lake, ND; Ashley (Russ) Vanover & children Amelia & Archer of Newton, KS; Peter (Danielle) Jerome of Devils Lake, ND and many fond nieces and nephews and their families. Preceded in death by her parents; her husband Bill; one son Billy in 1949 and her brothers and sisters Leo, Archie, Agnes, Lawrence, Jim, Ellen, Joe, Lorraine, Fr. John Earl and Mary. If you wish, memorials may be sent to St. Joseph Catholic School, Devils Lake, ND. Visitation will be held at the St. Joseph Catholic Church on Monday beginning at 4:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Tuesday will continue at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Tuesday, May 12th at 10:00 a.m. with Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass and Deacon Jeff Gallagher assisting. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery. Casket Bearers for Aurelie will be Bill Jerome, Michael Jerome, Vince Hannesson, Philip Jerome, Roy Gallagher and Peter Jerome. Lector will be Linda Culmer and Gift Bearers will be Aurelie's grandchildren. Music will be provided by Lynne Webster and Audrey Myklebust.