Lower, Mary Laurine

Mary Laurine Lower passed away Monday, March 21, 2011, surrounded by her loving family, at the Hospice of the Valley in Glendale, Ariz., at the age of 89 years. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 26, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in North English. Father Joseph Roost and Father Troy Richmond will concelebrate. Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Parnell. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the church in North English, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Williamsburg is caring for her arrangements.

She is survived by 11 children: Elizabeth Szyszka (Walter) of Amana, Dr. Thomas Lower (Ceree) of Osceola, Robert Lower (Dorothy) of Iowa City, Mary Patricia Lower (James Edwards) of Las Vegas, Nev., Janet Caldwell (Kevin) of Washington, Francis Lower (Liz) of Riverside, Helen Heisler (Tim) of Glendale, Ariz., Donald Lower (Theresa) of North Liberty, David Lower (Maria del Mar) of Rota, Spain, Marita Stewart (Rob) of Phoenix, Ariz., and Susan Lower of Iowa City; a daughter-in-law, Cathy Lower Brown of North Liberty; 23 grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 12 stepgreat-grandchildren; two brothers, George Hanson (Roberta) of Williamsburg and Thomas Hanson (Sally) of Denver, Colo.; and a brother-in-law, Leonard Lower (Rose) of Williamsburg.

Laurine was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph; a daughter, Mary Kathryn; a son, Michael; a son-in-law, William Dickhaus; two brothers, Clement Hanson and Joseph Hanson; and three sisters, Norma Hanson, Catherine McDonald and Helen Knight.

Laurine was born April 27, 1921, near Holbrook, Iowa, the daughter of Thomas E. and Mary E. (Armstead) Hanson. She graduated from Parnell High School and attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She taught school for two years. Laurine was united in marriage to Joseph George Lower on July 9, 1941, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Holbrook.

She had been a lifelong resident of the Parnell and Holbrook communities. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Parnell, served actively with the Altar & Rosary Society, and was a charter member of the Parnell American Legion Auxiliary.

Laurine brought joy to her friends and family and enjoyed traveling, an active social and family life, baking, cooking, working her crossword puzzles and winning at Scrabble.

She will be greatly missed.

Memorials are for Rural Employment Alternatives in Conroy or the Iowa County Food Bank.

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