Phyllis A. Koss

Phyllis Anne Koss, age 75, of Hudson Wisconsin passed away September 2, 2016 peacefully in her home after a long fight with cancer and congestive heart failure (and a lifetime of not letting childhood polio take an inch more than it had to). A beloved mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, counselor, parishioner, listener, reader, writer, web master and life-long learner, Phyllis is finally resting in the arms of the Lord.

Phyllis was born in Minneapolis, MN on December 21, 1940, to parents Robert and Dorothy (Gardiner) McMahon. Phyllis had a strong will, strong opinions, strong mind and a gentle grace that touched so many. She studied history and education at St. Catherine University, as well as receiving her masters in education at the UW – River Falls. She entered the convent in 1958 and was a Sister of St. Joseph until 1965. She taught high school history at Derham Hall in Saint Paul and history and religion at Saint Anthony High School in Minneapolis, before teaching grade school at St. James in Saint Paul and 2nd grade at Incarnation in Minneapolis. She loved everything about teaching second grade and taught at Saint Patrick School in Hudson, WI from 1982-2005. A fan and early adopter of new technologies, she was Saint Patrick’s first web master, beginning in 1996 and continued to work at this until earlier this year. There simply is not room to list all the book clubs, boards and volunteering that she did.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; and infant daughter, Kristin. She is survived by her children, Kate of Chicago, Andrew and Matthew of Minneapolis; her grandson, Joe; and her siblings, Mary Kate of Chandler, Arizona and R. Patrick of Gutenberg, Germany.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, September 10 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1500 Vine Street in Hudson, with Fr. John Gerritts officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass at church. Interment will take place at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Hudson.