Denise Fahey Bagan O'Brien

OBRIEN, BAGAN, FAHEY, ROSENBACH, STARKOVITCH

Posted By: Mary Ellen Sicard (email)
Date: 9/25/2013 at 09:34:37

O'BRIEN, DENISE FAHEY (BAGAN), 85, of St. Louis, MO, formerly of Estherville, IA May 30, 1999.

Memorial service St. Mary's Catholic Church, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Friday, July 2, 1999, 10:30 a.m., Father Albert O. Grendler. Burial St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Estherville, IA. No visitation prior to the memorial service.

Born December 3, 1913, in Estherville, Iowa, to Dennis A. Bagan and Lomena J. Fahey, surviving are son, (John) Dennis O'Brien, wife Alise, St. Louis, MO: daughter, (Mary) Colleen Rosenbach, husband, William, Gettysburg, PA; son, Patrick O'Brien, wife Marsha, Minneapolis, MN; daughter, Kathleen A. O'Brien, St. Louis, MO; daughter, Maureen T. Starkovitch, husband, Thomas, San Antonio, TX; son Kevin M. O'Brien, St. Louis; son, Terrence B. O'Brien, wife, Mary, South Boston, MA; seventeen grandchildren, sister, Irene Flanagan, husband, Donald, Rancho Bernardo, CA, sister-in-law, Mary de Sales Bagan, Estherville, IA; sister-in-law, Mardi Ann Wilson, San Francisco, Ca; forty-two nieces and nephews.

She attended and graduated from the College of St. Catherine and the University of Chicago. She was untied in marriage to Dr. Lyal John O'Brien; for many years, the couple were residents of Fort Dodge, Iowa and the Iowa Great Lakes Region. Mrs. O'Brien was a lifelong advocate for social justice and social welfare for the children and less fortunate in the State of Iowa; she was honored with the Papal Designate of the Order of St. Gregory for her volunteer work and leadership role with Catholic Charities. Since 1938, she was considered both a regional and national 'pioneer' in the childcare, child welfare and juvenile and criminal justice systems. At her retirement in 1977, she was the longest termed employee in the State of Iowa's Department of Social Services and Corrections; numerous Governors of the State of Iowa presented her with civil citations for her dedication, leadership and community involvement. Until her death, she was an avid reader and follower of the national and international political and legislative process.

She has been preceded in death by her husband; one son; parents; and two brothers, Ed D. and Marvin 'Mike' Bagan.
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, July 3, 1999)