Annabelle Faye (Byers) BREEN

BREEN, BYERS, BELL, ODGAARD, PALMITIER, HARRIS, DAKOVICH, MCCOUN, ACKER, OLSON, DACEY, MCCLEARY, MCKINNEY, HANRAHAN, GOSIESKY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/16/2014 at 21:00:42

October 25, 1925 --- December 15, 2013

Annabelle Faye Breen, 88, died December 15, 2013 of natural causes at her home in Elkhart, Iowa.

Ann F. Breen was born October 25, 1925 to Charley and Jenney (Bell) Byers rural Maxwell, Iowa. She grew up on different farms in the area of Maxwell, Norwalk, and Mitchellville until 1935 when her family moved to the town of Mitchellville. Ann graduated from Mitchellville High School, Class of '44 and always had a special bond with classmates and friends. She babysat for others at a very young age and later worked at the Ordinance Plant Cafeteria in Ankeny and after graduation at Dean's studio in Des Moines.

Ann met John Breen at the Tromar ballroom in Des Moines when he was home on leave from the U.S. Army following POW camp in Germany WWII. They married in August 1946 and first lived in Mitchellville and became residents of the housing for Veterans at Fort Des Moines. In 1952 the couple purchased their first home in Des Moines on 15th Street in Oak Park and later moved to Elkhart in 1959. Ann worked at Bourns in Ames, Iowa for 20 years as inspector and quality control in plastic mold and components. Ann and John loved dancing to Big Band and Swing music. She loved reading, movies, political news, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. All children held a special place in heart and she appreciated the unique personality of each child. Her favorite place was weekends at her lake cabin at Lake Cornelia. Ann was a member of St. Mary's Holy Cross Rosary, VFW, and American Legion, EX-POW Mid-Iowa Chapter.

Survivors include her children, Patrick (Barbara) Breen of Florida, Michael (Rachelle) Breen of Ankeny, Deborah (Ron) Odgaard of Altoona, and Teresa (Steve) Palmitier of Hinsdale, Ill; grandchildren, Cathy (Gary) Harris, Matt (Nancy) Breen, Ryan (Dr.Laura Dakovich) Odgaard, Mollie (Nick) McCoun, Annie (Larry) Acker, Katie, Joe and Bridget Palmitier, and John and Shelby Breen; great-grandchildren, Kevin, Mitchell and Maria Harris, Michael Olson, Lindsey Dacey, Brandon and Chase Odgaard, and Conner McCoun; sister, Gerry McCleary; sisters-in-law, Julie and Kay; nieces and nephews, Cheryl, Steve, Tom, Kevin, John, Michael, Mary Beth, Janet, Rita, Bernadette, Sean, Don, Cindy, Melissa, and Rene. Ann was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, John Breen; parents; brothers, Bob (Peggy) Byers, Tim Byers; sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen (Hubert) McKinney, Honora (Louis) Hanrahan, and Cecilia (Adam) Gosiesky; brothers-in-law, Maurice (Betty) Breen and Carroll McCleary; niece, Marilyn McKinney; and newphews, Mark Gosiesky and Greg Hanrahan.

"Sweet Annie" was known for her kindness, patience and caring for others along with her sense of humor, love of dancing and sitting in the sunshine. Ann was devoted to her faith and family and like so many mothers, always put her family before herself. She has missed John and all he did for her and was looking forward to continuing that Sentimental Journey.

Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2013 at St Mary's Holy Cross Catholic Church in Elkhart with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 20, 2013 at the church with inurnment following at Elkhart Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family or St Mary's Holy Cross Church.

Des Moines Register - Des Moines, Iowa
December 20, 2013

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[Lake Cornelia in Wright County, Iowa]