ALTA VISTA - Grace C. Swehla, 85, Alta Vista, died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002 at Colonial Manor, Elma of natural causes.

Funeral Services were 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Alta Vista with Reverend John Hemann officiating. Sara Recker was organist and accompanied the St. Bernard Church Choir singing "Be Not Afraid", "Amazing Grace", "On Eagle's Wings , "City of God" and "How Great Thou Art". Lectors were Nicole Tierney, Robert Koelling and Galen Streich. Eucharistic ministers were Marge Quirk, Lavern McGrane and Donna McGrane. Gift bearers were Jessie Swehla, Kelly Swehla and Jordan Gansen. Mass servers were Brian Tierney, Andy Folkers and Joanna Ries. Gregory Streich, Gordon Streich, Gail Streich, Glenn Streich, Brett Tierney and Bradley Tierney placed the pall.

Burial was in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Alta Vista with Guston Steich, Jeff Koelling, Brodie Tierney, Ryan Voss, Travis Swehla, Joshua Gansen, Justin Gansen and Joel Gansen serving as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers were Natalie Tierney, Jennifer Donaghy, Melanie Moore, Monica Ruelle, Maria Streich, Machelle Hennick and Amy Swehla.

Visitation was from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 at Conway Funeral Home, Elma, where there was a 4 p.m. Rosary and 7 p.m. Scripture Service. Visitation was also an hour prior to services at the church.

Grace Cecelia Swehla was born Feb. 11, 1916 near Jerico, the ‘ daughter of Joseph and Mary (Weigel) Quirk. She graduated from New Hampton High School in 1934. After her schooling she worked as a housekeeper for families in New Hampton and at the Busy Bee Cafe. On April 24, 1939 she was united in marriage to Jerome Swehla at St. Pat's Catholic Church, Jerico. Following their marriage the couple farmed five miles southwest of Alta Vista where they lived all their married lives. She enjoyed gardening, baking cookies, sewing, going on trips and spending time with her family. She was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church and the Rosary Society.

Survivors include a son, Gary (Julie) Swehla, Alta Vista; four daughters, Marlys (Lloyd) Streich, Charles City, Marilyn (Harlen) Koelling, Waverly, Joyce (Dennis) Tierney, Charles City and Linda (Paul) Gansen, Alta Vista; 28 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; a sister, Gertrude Gebel, Alta Vista; a sister-in-law, Germaine Nos-bisch, Ionia and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Jerome, in 1984; two sisters Mabel Gebel and Evelyn McGrane; two brothers, Harold and Walter Quirk and a great-grandaughter Kacie Streith.

Source: New Hampton Tribune; Jan. 8, 2002 Page 4
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters