Mary Wiyrick

MARY WIYRICK

Cedar Rapids

Mary Eileen (Cornwell) Wiyrick passed away Dec. 9, 2016, at Living Center East nursing home. A celebration of life ceremony will be held Friday, Dec. 23, at Giverny Studios, 591 62nd St., Suite 104, in Marion. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. with the ceremony starting at 6 p.m. Light hors d'oeuvres and drinks will follow.

Mary was born March 25, 1947, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to loving parents, Dick and Doris (Staub) Cornwell. She attended school in Cedar Rapids and Kirksville, Mo., graduating from Kirksville High School in 1965. She worked at Younker's Department Store for a short time before marrying George Wiyrick in a simple ceremony on July 15, 1968. They had two daughters, Christine Ann and Alisa Beth.

For several seasons of her life, Mary was a stay-at-home mom. When her daughters were in junior high and high school, she furthered her education by attending cosmetology school at Capri College. Later in life, she worked as an in-home health care aide, finding joy and satisfaction in helping others with personal care and meal preparation.

Mary enjoyed visiting with her folks, baking, cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed the beauty of nature by camping and walking. She spoke kind words to others and had a way of making people feel welcome in her home. She loved children and her heart was open to helping other people.

Mary is survived by her ex-husband, George Wiyrick; daughters, Christy Nyhus (Dale) and Alisa Brown (Melvin); four grandchildren; sisters, Joanne Gosselin (Earl) and Lois Vent (Max); and sister-in-law, Vicki Cornwell (Ken).

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Ken Cornwell.