Doris Irene O'Connell 1939 - 2019

OCONNELL, HEHN, GOTTO

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/4/2019 at 15:05:44

Sioux City Journal
2 February 2019

Smithland, Iowa

Doris Irene O'Connell, 79, of Smithland, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, surrounded by her loved ones, at her residence.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mapleton, Iowa. The Rev. Richard D. Ball will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Oto, Iowa.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. and a vigil at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home in Mapleton. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com.

Doris was born on April 2, 1939, on a farm outside Oto, the ninth child of Nicholas and Anna (Hehn) Gotto. As the youngest, Doris was mentored and spoiled by all her siblings. She attended Oto Elementary, and later Oto High School, where she participated in chorus, band, drama, and cheerleading for the Oto Bulldogs.

The love of her life, Joe O'Connell, also attended Oto High School. The couple was married on Jan. 14, 1958 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oto, by the Rev. Raymond Weiling and celebrated Mass faithfully there, until the church closed in 2017. She was a lifelong member of St. Mary's, the Altar Society and taught CCD to many children. They moved to the family farm in April 1958, where they raised five sons and two daughters in a four-bedroom, one-bathroom home.

Doris worked as a housewife and mother, and passed along her cooking and cleaning skills to all her children. She worked as an attendant for the Election Commission for more than 30 years. She also participated in family activities of canning, gardening, walking beans, and cleaning chickens. When she wasn't caring for her children and their friends, she used her craft skills to make cloth diapers, baby blankets, and afghans. In later years, she transitioned to making kitchen towels and washcloths, plus small holiday craft items to sell at a local craft fair. Her craft legacy was the colorful scratchers, making thousands over the years to share with family and friends.

Upon all the children leaving home, Joe and Doris built their dream home south of the previous farmhouse in 2002. The upgrade to five bedrooms and three bathrooms made it more enjoyable for extended family to visit and celebrate.

Those family members left to cherish her memory are her devoted husband of 61 years, Joseph O'Connell of Smithland; son, Timothy "Trapper" and Janeen (Shaw) of Odessa, Texas, along with Megan and Brett Sowers of Parker, Colo., and Austin of St. Louis, Mo.; son, Brian of rural Smithland, along with Jessica Williams of Houston, Texas, Brice of Denison, Iowa, and Nick and Amanda of Omaha; son, Mark of Sioux City, along with Matthew of Sioux City; daughter, Trudy and Joe Pierick of Iowa City, Iowa, along with Philip of Cleveland, Ohio, and Alyson of Atlanta, Ga.; son, Patrick and Michelle (Meurer) of Wheaton, Ill.,, along with Abigail of Fishers, Ind.; son, Greg and Catherine (Metz) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; daughter, Sara and Travis TeGrotenhuis of Hospers, Iowa, along with Kaden; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Nicholas and Anna (Hehn) Gotto; in-laws, Paul and Bernie (Dixon) O'Connell; four brothers, Henry Adam (Joyce), Leo Matthew (Martha), Joseph Phillip (Clara) and Nicholas John Jr. (Lucille); and four sisters, Katherine Mary Lewis (Gene), Anna Margaret Handke (Tracy), Mae Margaret Handke (Herald), and Margaret Frances Ronfeldt (Joseph).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to American Heart Association, via heart.org or Alzheimer's Association via alz.org.