Nolan, Mary Ellen Manion

Mary Ellen Manion Nolan, 86, of St. Benedict's Senior Community in St. Cloud, Minn., formerly of Cedar Rapids, and Littleton, Colo., died Saturday, March 12, 2011, at Quiet Oaks Hospice House in St. Cloud, following a long illness. Funeral services: 11:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. David Beckman. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery. A rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. today at Teahen Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, where friends may visit today from 3 to 8 p.m. and after 11 a.m. Thursday at the church.

She was born June 20, 1924, in Parnell, Iowa, the daughter of James Francis and Katie Madelyn Cash Manion. She moved with her family to Cedar Rapids at the age of two and lived there until her move to Colorado in 1978. She also lived in Cedar Rapids from 2001 to 2005.

She graduated from Marycrest College in Davenport, in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with minors in Social Science and Philosophy.

On June 11, 1955, she was united in marriage to Charles T. (Tom) Nolan at Immaculate Conception Church in Cedar Rapids. Tom worked as an assistant traffic manager for Penick & Ford, Ltd. (now Penford Products Company) and Mary Ellen enjoyed a long career as an executive secretary for a number of different employers, including eight years at Penick & Ford and 11 years at Lockheed Martin in Colorado. They were both active volunteers with St. Matthew's Parish, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and other faith-based social action groups, including an interfaith group that founded Cedar Rapids' first food bank. For many years, Mary Ellen managed the book rack for St. Matthew's Parish with the proceeds from book and magazine sales going to support the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She was also a member of St. Monica's Circle and sang in the parish funeral choir. Tom preceded her in death on March 9, 1976. After her move to Colorado, Mary Ellen was an active member of St. Mary's Parish in Littleton. She was very proud of her Irish heritage and visited Ireland three times.

Mrs. Nolan is survived by one son, Mark (Stacy) Nolan of Las Vegas, Nev.; two daughters, Anne Nolan (Bryant Julstrom) of St. Cloud, Minn., and Sheila Nolan of Littleton, Colo.; also five grandchildren, Nick and Kerri Nolan of Cedar Rapids, and Marie, Tom and Caroline Julstrom of St. Cloud.

Online condolences may be left at

www.teahenfuneralhome.com

Memorials may be directed to Quiet Oaks Hospice House, 5537 Galaxy Rd., St. Cloud, MN 56301.