Gloria Irene (Harrison) Finnegan 1925 - 2016

HARRISON, FINNEGAN, RICHTER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/18/2016 at 20:09:15

Sioux City Journal
29 April 2016

SIOUX CITY | Gloria Irene (Harrison) Finnegan, 91, of Odell, Ill., formerly of Sioux City, passed away peacefully Sunday, April 24, 2016, at Pontiac (Ill.) Healthcare and Rehab.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Catholic Church in Odell, with the Rev. David Sabel officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul's Catholic Cemetery in Odell. Visitation will be one hour prior to services Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home in Pontiac. Condolences may be made at duffyfuneralhome.com.

Gloria was born Jan. 10, 1925, in Sioux City, to Arthur and Frances (Richter) Harrison. Gloria attended Central High School in Sioux City. After high school and as a young woman it was an exciting time for her and her immediate family when she soloed a small airplane and received a private pilot license from an airport in North Sioux City.

She married Edwin Finnegan in June 1946. After moving to her husband's family farm in Odell, and during her early married life, she worked as a guard for several years at the Oakdale Reformatory for Women in Dwight, Ill. One of her many passions was living and working on the farm alongside her husband.

Gloria and Edwin were members of the ELKS Club in Pontiac, and longtime members of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Odell, where she served in the Ladies Club helping with the needs of the congregation.

During the years, Gloria taught herself to play piano and became quite accomplished. Gloria delighted in the outdoors. She loved cooking and entertaining family and friends, gardening and canning, and enjoyed countless hours taking care of her many pets. Along with her other hobbies she enjoyed making stained glass art.

Survivors include her son, Michael (Kathy) Finnegan of Arkansas; sister, Joyce Arlene (Harvey) Begnoche of Sioux City; grandchildren, Michael (Karla) Finnegan Jr. of Pontiac, Becky (Todd) Haycraft of Low Point, Ill., and John Finnegan of Pontiac; great-grandchildren, Cole Finnegan, Ethan Finnegan, Sean Finnegan, Amelia Finnegan, Dustin Haycraft, LeeAnn Finnegan and John Finnegan Jr.; sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Edwin in January 1997; her parents; brothers, Arthur Harrison Jr. and Richard Harrison; and sister, Elaine (Harrison) Provancha.

Memorials may be made to the Livingston County (Ill.) Humane Society.

Gloria dearly loved the staff at Pontiac Healthcare and Rehab and they loved her in return. They will miss her greatly.