Stella C. Hammel 1918-2003

HAMMEL, COLLINS, GRIFFIN, IVERSON, FRANA, KEARNEY, PERRY

Posted By: SGF (email)
Date: 5/15/2003 at 02:12:35

Stella C. Hammel, 84, of rural Decorah, died Friday, March 7, 2003, at her home following a brief illness. Funeral services were held Monday, March l0 at St. Mary's Dorchester Catholic Church in Dorchester, with Fr. Joseph Schneider and Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg officiating. Burial was in St. Mary's Hanover
Cemetery, rural Waukon. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon assisted with arrangements. Stella Celia Collins was born June 27, 1918, in Waukon, the daughter of James and Celia (Griffin) Collins.
She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Hanover Catholic Church and attended school to become a teacher. On June 17, 1946, she married Ralph B. Hammel at St. Mary's Hanover Catholic Church. Stella taught for eight years at "West Ridge", "Bee", and several other rural Allamakee County schools. She also helped on the farm and did all the bookwork. She was an active member of St. Mary's Dorchester Catholic Church and held offices in the Rosary Society. She also liked to garden and was an excellent cook. Stella's true love was her family and she was happiest when around and caring for them. She was a loyal and dedicated mother and loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When she passed away, she was surrounded by many of the family she loved. Survivors include her husband, Ralph; three daughters, Susan Iverson of Dakota, Minn., and Mary Jo (Bill) Frana and Ruth Ann (Kevin)
Kearney, both of Calmar, Iowa; five sons, Ralph Jr. (Kathleen) of Spring Grove, Minn., and Roger, David (Karla), Charles (Deborah), and Steven (Deborah), all of Dorchester, Iowa; 34
grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Marie Perry of Dubuque. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Mary Catherine; and four brothers, James, Elmer,
John, and Robert Collins. Casketbearers were Jimmy, Bethany, Michael, Jennifer, and Matthew Hammel; Brian Brower, Billy Joe Frana, and Alan Iverson. Honorary casketbearers were Ralph and
Stella's grandchildren.

©Waukon Standard 2003
-source: Waukon Standard March 11, 2003