Mary "Mae" O'Connell 1919 - 2009

OCONNELL, OBRECHT, SCHIERNBECK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/21/2019 at 21:07:56

Sioux City Journal
11 March 2009

ANTHON, Iowa -- Mary "Mae" O'Connell, 90, of Anthon passed away Monday, March 9, 2009, at Correctionville Nursing and Rehab Center in Correctionville, Iowa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Anthon, with the Rev. Terry Roder officiating. Burial will be in Mount St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. today, with the family present 5 to 7 p.m. and a vigil wake service at 7 p.m., at Armstrong Funeral Home in Anthon. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church.

Mary E. "Mae" O'Connell was born Jan. 25, 1919, to Frank and Nellie (Obrecht) Schiernbeck, in Hayes Township in Ida County, Iowa. She was baptized on March 9, 1919.

She married William Francis O'Connell on April 7, 1953, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Anthon. Their married life was spent farming on the farm that her husband, Bill, owned since 1934. She worked at the Anthon-Oto Community School in the kitchen for several years. She also baked pies for a local restaurant. Bill passed away Oct. 26, 1977.

She was a very devoted member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She welcomed the home visits by the Rev. Roder and loved to listen to his music. She will be remembered for her love of cooking for her family. She also enjoyed being able to spend time with her brother and sisters. She enjoyed every minute spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. One of her favorite pastimes was watching The Lawrence Welk Show.

Survivors left to cherish her memory include two sons, John and his wife, Debra of Anthon and Robert and his wife, Sheila of Cushing, Iowa; four grandchildren, Bill and his wife, Steph, Mike, Scott and Kristin; two great-grandchildren, Madison and Lane; a sister, Veronica Cunningham of Anthon; a sister-in-law, Pat Roark of Anthon; and many nieces, nephews and good friends.

Along with her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by a brother, Bernie; sisters, Frances, Lorraine and Elaine; an infant brother; and an infant sister.