Hanlon, Margaret A.

Margaret A. Hanlon, 85, of Oelwein, died Tuesday morning, Sept. 18, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. Mass of Christian Burial: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oelwein, with the Rev. Paul C. McManus officiating. Visitation: 3:30 to 7 p.m. Monday at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein, with a CDA rosary service at 4 p.m. and Scripture service at 7 p.m. Interment: Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, Fairbank.

Margaret Ann Hanlon was born April 1, 1927, in Iowa City, Iowa. She was adopted by Michael and Mary (Garvey) Hanlon of Oelwein. Margaret attended elementary school at Walker Public School and Sacred Heart School in Oelwein and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1945. She received her higher education at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids and St. John's College in Collegeville, Minn.

Margaret entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy in 1946 and received a dispensation from vows in 1974. She was an Associate of Mercy and a member of the Third Order of Lay Carmelites, Immaculate Conception Chapter. While a Sister of Mercy she was engaged in music ministry and served at schools in Waterloo, Clarion, Anamosa, Cedar Rapids, Ames and Decorah, Iowa; Kalispell, Mont., and Minneapolis. She later taught instrumental music at St. Joe's School in Marion, St. John's School in Independence and Sacred Heart School in Oelwein. Margaret also played piano and organ at various churches in the area. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, rosary society and Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Rita 321.

Margaret was a gifted instrumental musician. Margaret's passions included listening to and playing music, reading, playing Scrabble, her many dogs, animals of all kinds and watching Major League baseball, especially her favorite team, the Atlanta Braves.

She will be remembered for her deep faith and her willingness to always pray for the intentions of others. Margaret touched many lives; may she rest in peace.

Margaret is survived by her cousins, William (Alvera) Hogan of Arlington, Melita Whitesell of Alpharetta, Ga., Kathleen (John) Becker of Oelwein and Paul Duffy of Des Plaines, Ill.; and a host of friends, Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Associates and Lay Carmelites.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A memorial fund has been established

Online obituary: www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com.

Published Sept. 21, 2012 in The Gazette