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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Colby, Mary C.
Mary C. Colby, 87, a resident of Keystone Cedars Assisted Living in Cedar Rapids, formerly of Marion, died there Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, surrounded by her seven children. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion by Father John Gossman. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion, where a parish vigil service will begin at 6:30 p.m. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include her children, Michael (Penny) Colby of Cedar Rapids, Daniel (Barb) Colby of Marion, Anne (Jerry) Rogers of Idabel, Okla., Edward (Susan) Colby of Marion, Patricia (Clancy) Sullivan of Des Moines, Kathleen (Brian) A'Hearn of Marion, and John (Angie) Colby of Coos Bay, Ore.; 20 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. She also is survived by two sisters, Katie O'Brien of Oelwein and Agnes Kelly of Tucson, Ariz.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert; brothers, Michael and Bernard Mullaley; and her twin sister, Anna Schnoebelen.
Mary was born Jan. 26, 1922, the daughter of Edward and Anna (Timmer) Mullaley, in Cedar Rapids. She graduated from Marion High School in 1940 and went on to attend Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids. In 1944, she followed her twin sister, Anna, to Seattle, Wash., and worked at the Port of Embarkation. Upon her return to the Marion area, she met and married Robert A. Colby on Feb. 5, 1948.
Mary was a wonderful homemaker to her husband and seven children. Mary was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and enjoyed being a Sacristan there for many years. She enjoyed playing cards with her friends, family fishing trips, crossword puzzles and being surrounded by her grandchildren.
Mary's family would like to thank Hospice Compassus for the comfort and care given to our mother over the last few days.
The family will be forever grateful to the incredible staff and residents at Keystone Cedars who, over the last four years, made a loving and caring home for our mother.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or The Sisters of Mercy, in Mary's memory.
Please sign the online guest book for Mary at under obituaries.
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