My Mom and best friend, age 83, passed away at her home on Tuesday, July 9, 2013, with me by her side, and where she wanted to be, so was cared for there by me and my daughter, Wendy, for years while struggling with many illnesses. Through Mom's declining state, I thank my husband Steve for his understanding and help in taking care of Mom. She was born March 29, 1930 in Evergreen, Wisconsin to Maude and Ernest Ingram. She married Ray DeHart on October 22, 1949. They lived in various states and at one point had a small family business in the lumber industry before settling in Oshkosh, Wisconsin where they made many friends and raised me and my sister. She held many jobs throughout her life, with the last being Muza Metal Products on Murdock Street in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She was a woman ahead of her time, standing long hours in factories next to the men before civil and equal rights, to earn a living and support her family and children. One of her enjoyments was bowling on league with me, and for many years with a few of her close friends. She was preceded in death by my Dad, her husband, Ray DeHart in November 1983, her parents, six brothers: Hubert, Kenneth, Virgil, Clyde, Omar, Lloyd, and special friends: Al Mauk, Alice Patten, and Gena Raatz. My Mom is survived by two daughters: Barb DeHart of Denver, Colorado, Patty (Steve) Ratajczak, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, four grandchildren: Chris DeHart-Reed, Wendy (Matt) Stenson, Rebecca Ratajczak, and Brad Ratajczak, and two great-grandchildren: Tre DeHart-Reed and Elijah Stenson. She is further survived by one brother, Lawrence Ingram, two sisters: Jessie Messer and Violet Atter, and several nieces, nephews, and friends. I want to give a special thank you to my Mom's neighbor, Diane, to Aurora Hospice, and to Dr. Phillis Lee, my Mom's doctor for all they did for my Mom.

The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 12, 2013 at Fox Cities Funeral and Cremation Services, with Rev. Tim Greenwald officiating. Friends will be received at the funeral home on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Friday from 10:30 until the time of the service. Burial will be in Lakeview Memorial Park.

"As my mom gets laid to rest in peace next to my dad,
I am proud to be their daughter though today I am sad.
It hurts so much to have lost my parents keeping in mind,
That they were to all, so loving, giving, caring, and kind.
They will both be sadly missed the rest of my days,
For I could not have asked for better parents or grandparents
That they were always."