Matilda “Tillie” (Sievert) Moench (1867-1955) was born to Henry and Dora (Gohde) Sievert, German immigrants, on August 18, 1867 in Louisville. She was the youngest of six children. Henry ran a saloon on Market Street, between Shelby and Campbell Streets. In 1872, he died from tuberculosis at 55. He was buried in Section A, Range 10, Lot 33 of Eastern Cemetery with a large monument. The 1880 census shows Tillie, her mother, and three of her siblings (John, Henry, and Augusta) living with their sister Minnie and her husband Clements Ohr in Phoenix Hill. By 1890, Tillie was working as a sales woman for J. Bacon & Sons and Lorch & Levi Co. In 1900, she was living with her mother, Henry, and nephew William Horning. Tillie’s sister Augusta married John Horning. Augusta died of tuberculosis in 1898 and was in Eastern Cemetery. John was a patient at Central State Hospital.
In 1907, Tillie’s mother died at the age of 87 and was buried next to her husband. Tillie and William then moved in with Minnie’s children John, Annie, Katie, and Minnie. The family was living at 538 E. Chestnut Street in Phoenix Hill. On October 9, 1912, Tillie married George Moench in Los Angeles, CA. George was the son of German immigrants, Gottlieb and Fredericka (Rentschler) Moench of Louisville. He and his brother Charles lived together in Los Angeles where George was a clerk. Tillie stayed in CA at least until George’s death in 1938. She may have remained in CA until Charles’s death in 1942.
On October 18, 1955, Tillie died at the age of 88. She was buried in Eastern Cemetery with her parents, three of her siblings (John, Henry, and Augusta), her brother-in-law John Horning, her nephew William Horning, and the ashes of her husband George and brother-in-law Charles. Her grave is unmarked. Tillie outlived her family except nieces Minnie and Katie Ohr and nephew John Ohr with whom she lived. Tillie’s obituary talked about her passion for bowling. She bowled in women’s leagues for ages 50+ and had the highest average several times. At the age of 83, her average was 158. Tillie’s photo is from “Courier-Journal” October 19, 1955.
