Elias, Mary 'Geri'

Mary “Geri” Elias, 92, of Cottage Grove Place, Cedar Rapids, died there on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 after a long illness. Funeral mass: 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Matthew Catholic Church where friends may call after 9 a.m. Thursday. The Rev. Mark Osterhaus will officiate. Burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include two sisters, Cathryn Hayward and Dorothy Anderson; and two brothers, Albert “Barney” (Pat) Hanson and Walter (Kathy) Hanson, all of Cedar Rapids.

She is also survived by a brother-in-law, Charles Elias of Minneapolis, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; four brothers, William, Harry, Herbert T. and Robert; and one sister, Margaret Fitzpatrick.

Geri was born on July 2, 1917, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Herbert and May Fitzgerald Hanson. She graduated from St. Patrick's School in 1935. Geri was one of two students with a perfect attendance for 13 years.

She married Frank “Ice” Elias on Feb. 15, 1941, in the rectory at St. Patrick's Church in Cedar Rapids. He died in 2000. Geri was employed by F.W. Woolworth Co. both in Cedar Rapids and the Minneapolis district office for 40 years. She was a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church and a former member of St. Cecelia Circle, the Elks Club and Elmcrest Country Club. She loved golf, bowling and playing cards.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Matthew Catholic Church, Essence of Life Hospice in Amana, or the donor's choice.

The family would like to thank Dr. Pope, Cottage Grove Place and Essence of Life Hospice for their loving care given to Geri.