ST. PAUL -- Sara E. Grosdidier, 77, of rural St. Paul died at 8:25 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, at her home. She had been in failing health.

She was born July 31, 1931, in Parsons to Charles Henry and Sara Ellen (Brown) Steinbacher. She grew up and attended schools in the South Mound and St. Paul areas and was a 1949 graduate of St. Francis High School in St. Paul. Prior to marriage, she worked at Montgomery Ward in Parsons.

She married Francis E. Grosdidier on April 17, 1951, in South Mound. Following marriage, they lived in South Mound and Erie before moving, in 1964, to St. Paul, where they made their home and raised their family.

She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and its Altar Society, the Harvest House and St. Paul Alumni and Friends Association.

She enjoyed cooking, gardening, crocheting, quilting and other needlework. She especially enjoyed doing volunteer work, attending her grandchildren's activities and visiting with family and friends.

Survivors include her husband, Francis Grosdidier of the home in St. Paul; four sons, Steve Grosdidier and his wife, Kathie, Greg Grosdidier, Mike Grosdidier and his wife, Teresa, all of St. Paul, and Kelly Grosdidier and his wife, Lisa, of Overland Park; five daughters, Donna Wood and her husband, Gary, of Erie, Jene' Noe and her husband, Rodney, Elaine VanLeeuwen and her husband, Keith, all of St. Paul, Sharon Hill and her husband, Guy, of Wichita, and Lisa David and her husband, Sujote, of Olathe; 26 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; a brother, Charles Steinbacher of Parsons; and four sisters, Lois Giefer and her husband, Frank, of St. Paul, Theresa Smith and her husband, Bob, of Erie, Gert Grabs and her husband, Gene, of Harper and Mary Joslin of Lawrence.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Chris, in 1990; and two brothers, Raymond and Gene Steinbacher.

The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery. The rosary will be at 7 p.m. today at the church, where the family will receive friends immediately following the rosary. Friends may call at the church after 1 p.m. today.

Memorials are suggested to St. Francis Catholic Church or St. Paul Alumni and Friends Association. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.