Berry, Mary Kathleen Carey

Mary Kathleen Carey Berry, 80, died peacefully Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at Mercy Hospice surrounded by her family. Visitation will be Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, where a vigil service will begin at 3 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Iowa City, with Father John Spiegel officiating. Family committal services will follow the Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Cemetery. It was Mary's request that instead of flowers, memorials please be directed to The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Mary was born April 27, 1932, in Carroll, Iowa, daughter of John and Lucille Carey. She graduated in 1949 from Churdan, Iowa High School, where she played in the Iowa State Basketball Tournament and the All State Chorus. In 1952, she graduated from St. Anthony's School of Nursing. On June 8, 1953, Mary married James Berry, her high school sweetheart. They have six children, Michael (Chris), Patricia Berry (Blaine) Williams, Richard (Julie), Joni, Maria (Bob) Fobian and James K. (Ann), all of whom live in the Iowa City area, except Rick and Joni and their families, who live in Arizona.

Mary led an active life as a Registered Nurse and worked in a number of Iowa hospitals and one in San Diego when her husband was stationed in the Navy. Upon Jim's discharge, the family moved to Cedar Falls, and Mary worked there and in Waterloo. After living in the Washington, D.C., area, the Berry family moved to Iowa City in 1968. Mary started working at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City in 1975 and retired from there after 21 years in the Obstetrics Department. She was often amazed at the number of mothers who remembered her many years after their children were born at Mercy. Mary was a very caring nurse and loved Mercy Hospital and her co-workers.

Mary was devoted to her husband, Jim, and their six children. Mary called St. Mary's Catholic Church her refuge for dealing with any concern that she might have. She sang in the church choir for many years and loved the beauty of her church.

Mary loved to play bridge and was a member of four bridge groups. She made many friends while playing bridge. Her interest never strayed from Hawkeye women's basketball, football and the Iowa wrestling team. During the 29 national wrestling tournaments that she attended, Mary could come close to picking the winners of the finals brackets. She attended eight football bowl games in which the Hawkeyes played.

Her love for her 10 grandchildren was constant and always evident. Her grandchildren bearing the Berry name are Kami, Ryan, Shawn, Kristian, Kaycie, Colin, Austin and Jonathan and Jake and Molly Fobian. She loved them and all of their friends. Mary got a kick out of traveling and made trips with Jim to the UK, Ireland, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. She and Jim also visited all 13 of the presidential libraries and museums. She was fascinated by the lives of the former presidents and their families.

Mary is survived by her loving husband and their six children; 10 grandchildren; her sister, Shirley (George) Dixon; her brother, Richard (Catherine) Carey; and many nieces and nephews.

She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, George.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lensingfuneral.com

Quietis in pacis, meus mea

Published Feb. 18, 2013 in The Gazette