Hegarty, Velma L. (Achenbach)

Velma L. (Achenbach) Hegarty, 96, of Stanwood, died Monday, Feb. 28, 2011, at Monticello Nursing and Rehab Center. Funeral Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Stanwood Union Church with Pastor Phil Leipold officiating. Burial: Stanwood Cemetery. Friends may call beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday at the church.

Velma was born Dec. 25, 1914, near Cedar Bluff, Iowa, to Alexander and Mary Schut Achenbach. She married Harry Hegarty on June 4, 1932, in Stanwood. She attended school in Cedar County and worked at Benda's General Store in Cedar Bluff. he and Harry farmed together near Stanwood, retiring in 1974. They traveled and spent winters in Arizona. She loved arts and crafts and spent hours gardening, crocheting, quilting, ceramics and oil painting. She was a member of Eastern Star, Kings Daughters, Cedar County Homemakers, Tipton Garden Club and the Stanwood Union church.

Survivors include two daughters, Sarah (Sally) Gorman of Cedar Rapids, and Sharon Fall (Bill Heldt) of Olin; 12 grandchildren; two foster grandsons; 12 great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Judith Hegarty of North Canton, Ohio; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 74 years; two sons, Thomas and Forrest Hegarty; a foster son, Paul Shepard; two grandsons; two sons-in-laws, Charles Gorman and Leo Fall Jr.; brothers, Earl, Charles and Walter Achenbach; and sisters, Beulah Jones, Nola Howard, Mildred Dice and Clara Messner.

Online condolences may be sent to chapmanfh.com.