Cada, Marie Kristina

Marie Kristina Cada, 92, of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday evening, July 11, 2012, at Evergreen Estates III following a brief illness. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Monday at Saint Ludmila Catholic Church by Father Dennis Juhl. Burial: Czech National Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Papich-Kuba Janeba Chapel West, 1604 J St. SW, where a vigil service begins at 5:30 p.m. and a rosary at 7:30 p.m. The Czech Heritage Singers will honor Marie with song at 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral chapel.

Marie is survived by her children, Jim Cada and wife Susanne of Shorewood, Minn., Marie L. Santiago and husband Harold Densen of Pickerington, Ohio and Jerry Cada and wife Ida of Shueyville; five grandchildren, Michael Santiago and wife LaShanda, Nicholas Egli Bailey, Olivia Smith Cada, Andrea and Marissa Cada; and a great-granddaughter, MaKayla Santiago.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James; two infant grandsons, Tomas and Luke Cada; her parents, Frantisek and Anna (Dalik) Domanek; sister, Anicka Domanek; and three brothers, Vaclav, Frantisek and Father Karel Domanek.

Marie was born Sept. 25, 1919, in Komorovice, Czechoslovakia. Following her college education, Marie taught 6th, 7th and 8th grades in public schools for eight years in various towns before leaving Czechoslovakia in 1948. She married James V. Cada on May 8, 1948, and after 56 years of marriage, James died July 24, 2004.

After leaving Czechoslovakia, the Cada family lived in Sweden for four years before coming to the United States in July 1952. They lived in Chicago from 1952 to 1961, when they moved to Cedar Rapids. Marie was employed as a housekeeper at Armstrong's Department Store for 27 years, retiring in 1985.

Marie was a member of Saint Ludmila Catholic Church, Legion of Mary, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and the Museum Guild, Czech Heritage Foundation, Federation of Czech Groups, Czech Heritage Singers, Guardians of Saint Joseph Branch 137 F.C.S.L.A. (formerly Catholic Workman) and Lodge Karel IV 13 W.F.L.A.

Memorial contributions may be given to Saint Ludmila Catholic Church and the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under “obituaries.”

Published July 14, 2012 in The Gazette