Mathilda “Tillie” Gertrude Nalewaja, 94, of Browerville, passed away on July 6, 2009, at the Long Prairie Memorial Nursing Home.  Funeral services for Tillie were held on Thursday, July 9, 2009, 11:00 a.m., at Christ the King Catholic Church in Browerville with Fr. Ralph Zimmerman officiating.  Interment was held at Christ the King Catholic Cemetery in Browerville.

Tillie was born on March 5, 1915, in Delano to Anthony & Hattie (Cebulla) Nalewaja.  The family moved to a farm near Browerville and Tillie attended parochial grade school until it burned down.  She then attended District 93, a one room country school for her 7th and 8th grades (1926 and 1927).  Tillie graduated valedictorian from Browerville High School in 1931.  She was editor of the High School paper called the The Browerville Mirror.  Following high school graduation, Tillie worked as a receptionist for Dr. Gardner, the local dentist for many years.  After Dr. Gardner retired, Tillie was employed at the Browerville Hospital as a medical transcriptionist until the hospital closed.  After the death of her elderly parents, Tillie moved from the farm to a mobile home on the outskirts of Browerville.  She participated in all the Catholic Church activities, sang in the choir and taught CCD for a number of years.  Tillie, a talented writer, was published in a number of publications over the years.  In 1939, she wrote the winning slogan for the Gurney Seed Company.  This won a new Chevrolet automobile for the family.  Her elderly years were spent as a resident of the Long Prairie Memorial Nursing Home with a caring staff.  Tillie was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Browerville, Mission Circle, Christian Mothers and the Third Order of St. Francis.

Tillie is preceded in death by her parents, brothers:  Paul, Benedict, Leo and Ignatius, sisters:  Anne, Catherine (Clem Hassing) and Alvina (Dan O’Connell). 

Tillie is survived by her brother, John (Donna) of Osakis, sisters, Philomene (Paul) Koller of North St. Paul, Hattie of College Park, MD, and many nieces and nephews.