Mae Irene Kriese

Mae Kriese, 95, passed peacefully, while listening to church hymns with her family by her bedside, after a short stay at Vintage Faire Care Center, on October 15, 2018. She was born on November 02, 1922 in Oakdale, the oldest daughter in a family of seven children, to Walter and Della Spencer. Being raised on a dairy farm, the jobs were never ending, and family ties were of great importance.
Mae graduated from Oakdale High School in 1941 and attended Modesto Junior College until she married Robert "Bob" Kriese on April 06, 1944. During their early years of marriage, Bob served in the Army Air Corps stationed in Atwater, CA and Oahu, Hawaii, while Mae established their home.
In 1945, they welcomed their first child, James. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to the mountain community of Sierra Village where they lived until 1950. At that time they returned to the Modesto area and moved into a new home in the Modesto Junior College area where they lived for 60 years. In 1956, Mae gave birth to their second child, Susan "Sue". Following the death of her husband Bob, in 2013, Mae decided to sell the family home and she moved into a comfortable apartment at Standiford Place, where she resided and continued to enjoy life until her death.
Although Mae's family was always a major part of her life, she still found time to pursue community service projects and hobbies. Since her youth, in Oakdale, Mae took an active role in her church and she was a guiding force in the Church Women United. Through her good works at Centenary Church, she was asked to be part of the Friends Outside by teaching sewing to the inmates at the women's facility. For several years, Mae gave her Friday afternoons to help the women make clothes for themselves and their children.
Mae was also an active Member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for more than 50 years where she held several offices and worked on all of the organizations service projects. For recreation, Mae enjoyed golfing with the Muni Niners Ladies Club, taking knitting classes, and learned to play the piano at Modesto Junior College. Mae was also a skilled bridge player and was an active member of two bridge clubs during most of her adult life.
In the early years, Mae and Bob were charter members of the Modesto 4-Wheelers where they traveled many backroads and took trips to Pismo Beach while riding in their 1952 Willys. Mae and Bob also enjoyed touring in their Model A Ford with the Modesto Area A's, along with their son James and daughter-in-law Dianne. Mae continued as an A's member until her passing. Trips across the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, along with International travel to Spain, Portugal, Hong Kong, and Switzerland, were also enjoyed by both Mae and Bob throughout their married life, but the most enjoyable times were those spent with family and friends at their cabin in Mi-Wuk Village, CA.
Mae was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother Maude Spencer, husband Bob of 69 years, her brothers Irving, Herbert, John, Ray Spencer, and her sister Alberta Overstreet. She is survived by her sister Bernice Frantz, San Diego, CA, her two children James (Dianne) Kriese and Sue (Jim) Smith, all of Modesto. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren, Greg (Bridgette) Kriese, Modesto, Maryanne (Cameron) Kroll, Turlock, and Trisha Smith, Modesto. And she is survived by 5 great grandchildren: Hunter, Tyler, and Kylie Kriese, all of Modesto, and Isabelle and Jackson Kroll, Turlock. Also surviving her are many nephews and nieces and her sister-in-law, JoAnne Gerfen, Santa Maria, CA.
Remembrances can be made in Mae's memory to: Community Hospice Foundation @ 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356; Centenary Church @ 1911 Toyon Ave. Modesto, CA 95350, or any charity of your choice .
Visitation will be held at Franklin & Downs McHenry Chapel, 1050 McHenry Avenue, Modesto, Tuesday, October 23rd from 3PM-6PM. Graveside Service will be held at Acacia Memorial Park, corner of Scenic Drive and Bodem Street, Modesto, Wednesday, October 24th at 11AM.

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