Emma "Mary" Pettit 1915-2011

PETTIT HINES FRANZEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/14/2012 at 21:10:17

Sioux City Journal
July 13, 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Emma "Mary" Pettit of Sioux City passed away April 3, 2011, in South Sioux City.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Morningside Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Dave Koehler officiating. Private committal service will be in Memorial Park prior to the service. Arrangements are under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.

Emma Maria Wilhelmina "Mary" Franzen was born June 30, 1915, in Coleridge, Cedar County, Neb., to Lehndert H. and Maude C. (Hines) Franzen. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Coleridge and grew up on a farm, one of 10 children.

She graduated from Coleridge High School in 1934, and then went to Sioux City's Methodist School of Nursing and received her RN degree. She was a nurse at the Depot during World War II and over the years at Methodist, Lutheran, and Gordon Memorial hospitals. She also worked in various doctors' offices before retiring.

She married Frank Allan (Al) Pettit on Nov. 10, 1938, at Morningside Presbyterian Church in Sioux City, where she became a member. They celebrated 63 years of marriage. Mary and Al had two children, Alana "Lani" Susan Pettit of Sioux City, and Julie "Juilz" Jeanne Pettit of Boulder, Colo.

Mary was a gifted seamstress, enjoyed gardening and playing the piano. She was a member of Siouxland Doll Club. Her last few years she lived at Matney's Colonial Manor in South Sioux City, Neb.

She is survived by her daughters; one sister, Mrs. Ervin (Maude) Schemmel of Correctionville, Iowa; and two sisters-in-law, Mrs. John (Naomi) Pettit of Sioux City, and Mrs. Annis Pettit Cooke of Spokane, Wash.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and eight siblings, Dede, Julia, Henry, Leonard, George, Chris, Meino, and Freddie.