SWENSON, Mary Virginia "Ginny" (Farrell) 1922-2017

SWENSON, FARRELL, KENNY

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/9/2017 at 11:53:32

OSAGE, IOWA - Mary Virginia “Ginny” Swenson, age 95, of Osage, formerly of Lawler, Iowa, passed away on Friday, April 7, 2017, at Linn Haven Rehabilitation and Healthcare in New Hampton, Iowa, with her family by her side.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage, Iowa, with Father Raymond Burkle celebrating. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Osage.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at Apple Valley Assisted Living in Osage, with a 3:30 p.m. Rosary and a 6 p.m. Scriptural Wake service. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the funeral mass on Wednesday. Online condolences may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com. Memorials may be directed to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage or Osage Public Library.

Mary Virginia “Ginny” was born March 2, 1922 to Raymond and Bernadetta (Kenny) Farrell in New Hampton, Iowa. She graduated from Lawler High School and attended Business College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Ginny was employed at Rath Meat Packing in Waterloo, Iowa, during World War II.

She was united in marriage to Alfred “Al” O. Swenson when he returned home from the war on August 19, 1946 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Iowa City, IA. The couple remained in Iowa City while Al attended the University of Iowa obtaining his Master’s Degree in Education. Al and Ginny welcomed their first daughter, Kristine in 1949. The family moved to Brooklyn, IA and to Osage in 1955 where they remained all their lives. They welcomed their second daughter, Molly in 1957.

Ginny enjoyed reading, knitting, watching Hawkeye sports. Her time spent with friends and family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren was always incredibly special. Ginny was a volunteer at the Osage Community Hospital, and various organizations in her community. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Church Choir.

Left to cherish Ginny’s memories are her two daughter, Kristine (Ronald) Markham of New Hampton and Molly (Patrick, Sr.) Gould of Middleton, WI; her four grandchildren, Jared (Mindy) Markham and Liz “Betsy” Markham, both of New Hampton, Anna Gould of Washington, D.C and Patrick (Jenny) Gould, Jr. of Southern California; her five great-grandchildren, Sidney, Madison, Griffin, Damien and Cecilia; her sister-in-law, Bernice Swenson; her three brothers-in-law, Carl Swenson, Don (Lorraine) Swenson and Joseph (Barbara) Swenson and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her adoring husband, Alfred O. Swenson in 2012 and her sister, Norma Farrell.

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 9 APR 2017