Ellen C. Donovan (1931-2013)

DONOVAN, DUNNE, STANISHA

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/23/2019 at 09:44:00

Ellen Cecelia Donovan, 82, of rural Bernard died Thursday, September 26 at Dubuque Mercy Hospital following a brief illness.

Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 30, 2013 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Bernard, Iowa with Monsignor Richard Funke officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Family and friends may call from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, September 29th, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd where there will be a wake service at 7:30pm Friends may also call after 9:00 a.m. Monday at the church until time of services.

Ellen was born in Bellevue, Iowa to Joseph and Anna Stanisha Dunne on January 17, 1931. She graduated from Andrew High School and married Neal Donovan at St. John’s Catholic Church in Andrew on November 18, 1950. The couple settled in rural Bernard where they raised their family, farmed and resided for over 50 years.

Ellen worked as an educational aide in the Western Dubuque School District for over 25 years. In addition she worked as a visiting in-home nurse aid and volunteered as a religious educator to the children of St. Patrick’s Church in Garryowen for many years.

She is survived by her husband and nine children: Richard (Mary Lou), of Bernard, Tom, of Zwingle, Connie, of Cedar Rapids, Pat (Marty) Ryan of Waterloo, Nora (Lee) of Ft. Worth, TX, Jim (Linda), of Austin, TX, Chris (Glen) Ehlinger, of Marion, Kathy (Chris) Frerichs, of Cedar Rapids and Susan of Chicago, IL. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Ellen is also survived by two brothers Bill (Mary Jean) Dunne of Bernard, Joe (Jean) Dunne of Maquoketa and a sister, Donna (Maurie) Sturm of Dubuque and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to great devotion to her family, Ellen enjoyed the rigors of farm life, gardening and the faith community of St. Patrick’s church. She was a loving mother and lent her support to the education of children in all facets of life, including her grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and all those fortunate enough to be guided by her faithful and loving influence. Her selfless and patient manner provided a lasting example of strength and dedication to all who knew and loved her.