Hess, Darlene 'Dolly' A.

Darlene “Dolly” A. Hess of Cedar Rapids, passed away Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 27, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home with a vigil service beginning at 4 p.m. Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at All Saints Catholic Church with the Rev. John R. Flaherty presiding and Deacon LaVerne Flagel participating. Private inurnment will be held at a later date.

Darlene Ann Hess was born Nov. 12, 1933, to Dr. Bernard C. and Blanche C. McDermott Luehrsmann in Dubuque, Iowa. She obtained her BA degree from Marycrest College in Davenport and her RN degree from Mercy School of Nursing in Dubuque. Dolly was united in marriage to Dr. John F. Hess on July 6, 1959, in Dyersville, Iowa. Dolly enjoyed spending days at Delhi, shopping trips with friends and family, dancing, holidays and Iowa Hawkeye game days. The most important thing to Dolly was her family and faith. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, John; daughters, Kimberly (Paul) Witte, Tami (William) Happel, Lisa (Thomas) Leidigh and Gina (Michael) Gary all of Cedar Rapids; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a brother, Ronald (Janet) Luehrsmann of Marion; a niece; and two nephews.

Dolly was preceded in death by her father, Dr. Bernard C. Luehrsmann; mother, Blanche C. Luehrsmann; brother, Bernie; and sister, Sheila.

The family would like to thank the staff at Oaks Health Center at Cottage Grove Place and the staff at Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House with special appreciation to Chaplain Bill Warhover.

A special thank you to the two angels Kendra and Kathleen from Home Instead who lovingly cared for her and were a blessing to her family.

Thanks also to her granddaughter Kayla who not only followed in her footsteps and became a nurse but used those skills in countless hours spent loving and caring for her grandma.

In lieu of flowers memorials in Dolly's name may be directed to Hospice of Mercy, Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House, Oaks Health Center at Cottage Grove Place or charity of choice.

Please leave an online condolence for the family at under Obituaries.

Published in The Gazette May 26, 2013.