Ardus Doris Plaza

Ardus Doris Plaza, passed away peacefully, with her daughter Sandra by her side, at North Haven in Stevens Point at 7:47 p.m. on April 11th, 2021.

Ardus was born on August 20, 1937 in Schofield, WI. The daughter of Icabod B. Albee and Mary S. (O’Keefe). She married David J. Plaza on June 1st, 1957 at St. Therese Catholic Church, in Rothschild, WI. They raised three girls and lived in Kronenwetter. He preceded her in death on January 29, 2007.

Ardus, a woman as unique as her name. She enjoyed reading, nature, flowers, and vegetable gardening. She also liked to draw, watch birds, listen to music, sunbathe, walks, camping, fishing and bow hunting. Ardus was a sociable woman, a very beautiful and classy lady who had many friends. She loved to gamble, play cards, shoot pool and share cocktails with friends. She was fun loving and full of fire. She was nicknamed “Ardie” by friends and family. She could be snarky at times with her electric personality, she was well liked by many. She was a dog fancier and always had a long-lived companion by her side. She was a homemaker whom later worked as a bartender and gas station attendant in Mosinee.

Ardus is survived by three children, Cheryl (Kevin) Kurtzweil, Fenwood, Sandra Plaza, Stevens Point, Robyn (Arlin) Hoppe, Schofield. Four grandchildren, Shelly, Shena, Alan, and Nicholas. Four great grandchildren, Zoey, Stella, Lucy, and Piper. A sister, Patricia (John) Kraucyk, Weston. She was loved dearly by her nieces and nephews.

Ardus was preceded in death by her husband; Parents; one infant son; Faith Brown; Joy Wendt; Frank Albee; and James Albee.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at Beste Funeral Home, Mosinee. The Rev. Donald Meuret will officiate. She will be laid to rest with her husband at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Rothschild. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services all at the funeral home. Online condolences can be made at www.bestefh.com.

The family would like to thank all the heroes at Copperleaf who took such good care of her.

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!”

“Gone where?”

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!”

And that is dying…. – Henry Van Dyke.