Ellen Cecelia (Dunne) Donovan 1931-2015

DONOVAN, DUNNE, RYAN, EHLINGER, FRERICHS, STURM

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 6/24/2017 at 21:29:44

BERNARD, Iowa - Ellen Cecelia Donovan, 82, of rural Bernard, died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque, after a brief illness.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday Sept. 30, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Bernard, with Monsignor Richard Funke officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Family and friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, where there will be a wake service at 7:30 p.m. Friends also may call after 9 a.m. Monday at the church until time of services.

Ellen was born in Bellevue, daughter of Joseph and Anna Stanisha Dunne, on Jan. 17, 1931. She graduated from Andrew High School and married Neal Donovan at St. John's Catholic Church in Andrew on Nov. 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 County Community School District for over 25 years. In addition, she worked as a visiting in-home nurse aide and volunteered as a religious educator to the children of St. Patrick's Church in Garryowen for many years.

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.

She is survived by her husband; nine children, Richard (Mary Lou), of Bernard, Tom, of Zwingle, Connie, of Cedar Rapids, Pat (Marty) Ryan, of Waterloo, Nora (Lee), of Fort Worth, Texas, Jim (Linda), of Austin, Texas, Chris (Glen) Ehlinger, of Marion, Kathy (Chris) Frerichs, of Cedar Rapids, and Susan, of Chicago; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; 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 lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ellen Donovan memorial fund to benefit the Bernard Food Pantry.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Sunday, September 29, 2013