Elizabeth Baehr

MADISON - Elizabeth O'Hara Baehr passed away on September 12, 2014. She was born December 5, 1915 in Janesville, Wisconsin to Patrick J. O'Hara and Mary Ann Regan O'Hara.

Elizabeth graduated as a registered nurse from Mercy Hospital in Janesville. She served as a 1st Lieutenant in the European Theater during World War II with the 59th Field Hospital in General Patton's 3rd Army. The 59th was a mobile unit in tents, which treated seriously wounded soldiers near the front lines. Elizabeth also provided aid for victims of the Mauthausen concentration camp after its liberation.

She married Dr. Louis T. Baehr, a surgeon, on November 9, 1946 in St. Patrick's Church in Janesville. She and Dr. Baehr made their home in Janesville and Madison where they raised two loving daughters, Barbara and Gretchen. Both daughters earned education degrees and are registered nurses.

Elizabeth was a long-time member of the Catholic Women's Club and Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Following the death of Dr. Baehr in 1952, Elizabeth returned to work as a nurse at University Hospital and the Bureau for Handicapped Children. She was especially dedicated to caring for children with cleft lip and palate.

Elizabeth enjoyed many trips to Ireland where she visited her mother's family, including her cousins Anne Canning (Sean), Frances Byatt-Smith (John), Marion O'Driscoll, Martina McKenna (Peter), Sean O'Reagain, Niall O'Reagain, and many other Irish cousins.

Elizabeth is survived by her daughters, Barbara Baehr, OP and Gretchen (Jim Cahoy) Baehr; sisters, Constance Ullrich and Kathleen Schonhoff; sister-in-law, Ruth Franks; nieces, Connie Browne (Bob) and Mary Ann Abate (Michael); nephews, Fred Ullrich (Judy) and Michael Ullrich (Maureen). Elizabeth was a very special Aunt to many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, brother Msgr. Robert J. O'Hara, and sister Mary Josephine Ruiz.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 18 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 401 S. Owen Drive in Madison. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church.

The Baehr Family would like to give a special thank you to St. Mary's Care Center staff and Agrace Hospice staff, especially Cara Kalscheur, for their wonderful care of Elizabeth. Memorial donations can be made to St. Mary's Care Center Foundation and Agrace HospiceCare.