116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Bessie Dugena
BESSIE MARIE DUGENA
Aug. 4, 1924 - Jan. 17, 2014
Formerly of Cedar Rapids and Chicago
Friends and family are welcome to join in a Celebration of Life from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401.
It's no surprise that Bessie left this earth exactly as she wanted; peacefully, in her sleep on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, in the home she shared with her first grandchild, Lisa, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
Bessie was born with a fierce and independent spirit. Determined to grow up fast, she found herself a single mom in Chicago at the age of 17. She worked hard, took classes and ended up working most of her adult life for Harris Bank and Trust. Three marriages and five children later, she was a "self-made, independent woman," buying and selling real estate decades before it was popular. She retired in Cedar Rapids, where she bought and ran Bozenka's T-Shirts and Gifts in Czech Village and cared for her parents until their passing.
She was well-known in the community for her generous and loving spirit; always willing to help when needed. She was a member of the Czech Heritage Foundation, the Federation of Czech Groups and a lifelong member of Lodge Karel IV 13 WFLA, serving many years as treasurer. She was a board member of both the Czech National Cemetery and Oak Hill Cemetery for which she and her longtime friend, Emma Davidson, lovingly hand-decorated wreaths to adorn gravesites for major holidays.
Above all, she honored her position as a teacher at the Cedar Rapids Czech School for Children. Even after the floods of 2008 stole all she had worked to achieve in life; being homeless, she still insisted on teaching her 24th year.
Waiting to dance with her on the other side were her parents, Fred and Bessie (Kratochvil) Anthony; her brother, Fred A. Anthony; an infant sister, Anna; her grandson, Matthew Ronquillo; and her last life partner of 30 years, Lumir Herman.
Bessie is survived by her five children, Betty Anne Fellows (Iowa), JoAnne Isoldi-Rodriguez (California), Marianne Ronquillo (Illinois), Thomas Ronquillo (Michigan) and Fred Dugena (Illinois), as well as her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Each has inherited her independent spirit and strength.
Instead of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Cedar Rapids Czech School. Checks can be sent to: Czech School, c/o Bernard Drahozal, 1419 Hamilton St. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com
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