Aurelia C. Pacey, age 98, of Manhattan, passed away August 29, 2026 at the Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in Manhattan.
Aurelia Cecelia Pacey was born to Joseph and Frances (Flynn) Richard on February 22, 1928, and grew up as the youngest of five children on a farm in the Meredith community west of Miltonvale, KS. She graduated from Miltonvale Rural High School in 1945 along with her future husband Franklin Pacey.
She taught for two years in the Meredith area. Aurelia and Franklin were married on June 17, 1946, and raised six children on the Pacey farm between Miltonvale and Oak Hill. They were members of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Miltonvale where Aurelia was active in the Altar Society. She was an integral part of the family farm and Pacey Custom Hay Baling, fixing lunches, ferrying machinery, and chasing down parts. Their farm home was the scene of many family get-togethers with their six children and spouses and 16 grandchildren. Aurelia was known for making heavenly angel food cakes and sewing for her children and grandchildren on her Sears Kenmore sewing machine that Franklin got for her when electricity was first brought to the farm in 1949. Aurelia and Franklin enjoyed traveling to all 50 states, especially on guided bus tours. After retirement they moved to Manhattan in 2003 where they enjoyed their wonderful and caring neighbors in the Westbank Townhomes and belonged to St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Franklin died in 2004, and Aurelia lived on her own in Westbank for another 19 years until she was 95.
She enjoyed making pillowcase dresses for young girls in developing countries and normally made six dresses per week using the same 1949 Sears Kenmore sewing machine. She made nearly 3500 dresses that friends, family, and missionaries personally carried to numerous countries, including Haiti, Nicaragua, and Papua New Guinea. Aurelia moved to Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan in 2023 and continued to sew dresses until just recently.
Aurelia is survived by four children, Marie Green of Manhattan, David Pacey (Carol) of Manhattan, Loretta Sampson (John) of Littleton, CO, and Polly Martin (Scott) of Clay Center, daughter-in-law, Mary Pacey of Olathe, fifteen grandchildren, Deb Webb (Scott William), Ed Chavey (Michelle), Matt Pacey (Jensena), Megan Lero (Dave), Erin Colaco (Glenn), John Green (Tracy), Breanna Martinez (Athen), Joseph Pacey (Cheryll), Katy Tra (Frank), Mark Pacey (Eryn), Anna Doody (Dustin), Shelby Sampson (Andrew), Andy Martin (Tori), Emily Anderson (Kaleb), and Tyler Martin (Sarah), and twenty-five greatgrandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Franklin, daughter Sue Chavey, son-in-law Tom Chavey, son Mike Pacey, son-in-law John Green, and grandson Todd Pacey.
The family will greet friends during a visitation from 5:30 until 7:00p.m. Thursday September 3, 2026, at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Manhattan. A Parish Vigil with the Rosary will follow at the church starting at 7:00p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30a.m. Friday September 4, 2026 at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Manhattan. Interment will be held at 2:00p.m. Friday September 4, 2026 at the Miltonvale Cemetery in Miltonvale, Kansas.
Memorial contributions in memory of Aurelia are suggested the St. Anthony Catholic Church. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com