Patricia Corkery

PATRICIA JEAN LEAVEN CORKERY

Cedar Rapids

Patricia Jean Leaven Corkery of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Rowley, died Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, of a sudden illness.

Patricia was born on June 27, 1927, in Independence, Iowa, the daughter of John Leaven and Mary Burke Leaven. She grew up on their farm outside of Independence until she moved to town in 1938. She graduated from St. John's High School in 1945. While attending Mercy School of Nursing in Dubuque, Pat was crowned 1948 homecoming queen and earned her registered nursing degree the same year. Pat married her college sweetheart, Leland Thomas Corkery, on June 25, 1949, at St. John's Catholic Church in Independence. She and Lee moved to their farm in Rowley where they lived for 61 years and raised their five children. They moved to Cedar Rapids in 2010.

Pat began her nursing career at the Mental Health Institute in Independence for two years, then worked for six months at the People's Hospital. Pat took a break from her nursing career to devote her life to her family and never missed one of their events. Later, she returned to nursing at Medical Associates where she worked for 25 years before her retirement. She was a member of All Saints, Rowley, where she served as a communion minister, taught CCD and was a member of the rosary society.

Family was everything to Pat and the love of her husband, Lee, on whom she doted and cared for all their years of marriage. She enjoyed a good game of euchre and a rousing Hawkeye game. She loved to dance with Lee and enjoyed a lifetime of memories with many dear friends. She enjoyed reading, and in particular liked to keep up on good health articles that she would often share with her family if she felt they needed some helpful advice. Pat loved a good cup of coffee, often with a dessert, and spending time with her family.

Pat is survived by her two sons, Jeff Corkery (Judy) of Peosta and Jim Corkery (Renee) of Cedar Rapids; three daughters, Chriss White (Earl) of Hiawatha, Cindy Lee (Doug) of Swisher and Kelly Von Lehmden (Terry) of Cedar Rapids; 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one sister, Joan Zitelman (Dan) of Manchester, who joined her in heaven the following day.

She was preceded in death by her love, Lee Corkery; her parents; two brothers, Johnny and Frank Leaven; and two sisters, Berneice Ross Hughes and Katheryn Parker.

Pat was a gentle soul, kind hearted, generous in love and devout to God. She was the true meaning of a loving mother and devoted wife. She will be missed by all of those who were blessed to have known her.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. John's Catholic Church in Independence with the Rev. Don Plamondon officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday and from 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at Reiff Funeral Home & Crematory, Independence, where a rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. Monday and a parish vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday.

To leave an online condolence, please go to www.reifffuneralhome.com under obituaries.