Chapman, Mary Catherine

Mary Catherine Chapman, 87, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at Cottage Grove Place following a short illness. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 30, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Entombment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories Mausoleum.

Surviving are her husband of over 66 years, Charles “Chuck” Chapman; her sons, Alan (Kate) Chapman of Marion, and Craig (Buck) Chapman of Cedar Rapids; her grandchildren, Mark Chapman of Cedar Rapids, and Anne (Nick) Maljkovic of New Orleans, La.; one great-granddaughter, Mia; sisters, Gertrude Wasendorf of Cedar Rapids, and Ann Clark of Davenport; and one brother, Paul (Sarah) Abernathy of Eureka, Calif.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, James M. Abernathy.

Mary Catherine Chapman was born on April 4, 1924, in Kirkville, Iowa, the daughter of James H. and Gertrude M. (Fuhs) Abernathy. She was united in marriage to Charles Henry Chapman Jr. on Oct. 25, 1944, in Cedar Rapids. Mary was employed as a long distance operator for Northwestern Bell Telephone for 24 years. She and Chuck built their first home themselves, before moving to their current residence that they have lived in for over 50 years. She greatly enjoyed traveling and had visited all 50 states and several countries. She also enjoyed sewing and was an accomplished seamstress who was willing to try anything.

Mary will be remembered for always being an elegant lady who was very protective of her family and very independent. She was a loving and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend who will be dearly missed.

A memorial fund has been established in Mary's honor.

Please leave a message, tribute or memory to Mary's family on the webpage, under Obituaries.