Jeanette Palys, 81, of Austin died Friday Jan. 6, 2012, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester after the sudden onset of an illness.

Jeanette Roberts was born Dec. 31, 1930, in Austin, to Merlin and Emma (Johnson) Roberts. Jeanette attended school at Lyle Township and graduated from Austin High School in 1948. She received her teaching certificate in 1949 and taught three years in Mower County. On Aug. 7, 1955, Jeanette married Antoni Palys at London Lutheran Church in London, Minn. Jeanette worked at J.C. Penney & Co. in the office for five years before devoting her time to raising her family. After the children were grown, she worked as a cashier at Shopko for two years before becoming her husband’s primary caregiver through his battle with cancer. After her husband passed away in 1987, she went back to work for Shopko for four years and retired in 1995. Jeanette was an active and devoted member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin since 1976. Jeanette had a profound love for life. She enjoyed traveling, playing cards, cooking, gardening, but most of all, she cherished and devoted her time to her loved ones. She will always be remembered as kind, fun-loving, forgiving and generous.

She is survived by her three daughters, Barbara (Michael) Herr, Eagan, Debra (Stephen) Hulet, Austin, Gayle (Mark) Heimsness, Austin, and son-in-law, Michael Whalen, Salem, Oregon; 11 grandchildren, Jason Whalen, Charissa (Jonathan) Egbide, Jaime Drake, Chassie (Darrel) Haider, Brad (Nikki) Hulet, Melony (Derek) Berndt, Melisa (Josh) Brown, Lindsay (Klyde) Hulet, Latisha Palys, Nicole Heimsness, Alexys Heimsness; 11 great-grandchildren, Dawson, Blake, Kadin, Madyson, Addie, Austin, Karli, Kleyton, Josh, Kaylan, Keremiah, and soon to be: baby boy Palys; brother, LuVerne Roberts, Osage, Iowa; nieces, nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Merlin and Emma Roberts; husband, Antoni; daughter, Arlene Whalen; brother, Morris Roberts; sister, Edith Hughes, and other relatives.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin with Rev. Glenn Monson officiating. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin. Friends may call at the Worlein Funeral Home in Austin from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, and at the church one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.