Mary Prendergast

MARY M. PRENDERGAST

Cedar Rapids

Mary M. Prendergast, 80, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Hiawatha, where friends may visit with the family after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Rev. Mark Ressler will officiate. Iowa Cremation is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include her husband, Richard; two daughters, Mary Mares (Chris) of Appleton, Wis., and Colleen Prendergast of Cedar Rapids; a son, Dan (Cindy) of Sycamore, Ill.; and a brother, Bill Schmal of California. She also is survived by four grandchildren, Colleen and Kevin Mares and Jonathan Taylor and Benji Prendergast.

She was preceded in death by a son, Doug; and a brother, Tom Schmal.

Mary was born Jan. 26, 1936, in Gary, Ind., the daughter of Edward and Margaret Davis Schmal. She married Richard H. Prendergast on Sept. 7, 1957, in Crown Point, Ind. Mary was a bookkeeper for Iowa Fire and Protection for over 40 years.

She was a cherished wife, mother, relative and friend to many and will be dearly missed.

Mary loved to get her hands in the dirt and enjoyed being a Master Gardener for over 17 years. She enjoyed playing in a bridge group and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan. Mary also enjoyed hosting parties for birthdays, holidays and Hawkeye bowl games. She enjoyed good food and cooking and was part of a Gourmet Club with a close group of friends for many years. Mary always had a smile to offer others and enjoyed getting to know people. Most of all, she treasured her family and friends. They meant everything to her.

Memorial donations may be directed to Camp Courageous.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.iowacremation.com under Obituaries.