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Elizabeth McGivern
ELIZABETH "BETTE" MCGIVERN
Marengo
Elizabeth "Bette" McGivern, 91, of Marengo, died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, in Cedar Rapids. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Marengo, with Father Joseph Roost and Father Christopher Podhajsky officiating. Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Marengo. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, with a Scripture service at 5 p.m. and a rosary at 8 p.m.
A memorial fund has been established.
Elizabeth Ann Shaull was born Nov. 8, 1924, in Blairstown, Iowa, the daughter of Clellon Alexander Shaull and Anna Carolyn Brown Shaull. She graduated from Marengo High School in 1942 and received her teaching certificate from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. Bette taught for two years in a one-room schoolhouse. She married Michael Joseph McGivern on June 13, 1946, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Marengo. The couple raised 10 children.
Besides being a wife, mother and homemaker, Bette worked as a travel agent and was a clerk in the assessor's office.
She was a wonderful seamstress for over 70 years, providing clothing for her family, including suits and prom dresses. She was known for her quilting, gifting many to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She donated quilts for the annual spaghetti supper at St. Pat's, and other raffles for friends and associates. It is estimated that she made at least 200 quilts with love and care.
Bette's devotion to her family was her passion. She was so proud of each and every member and would do anything to help them. Every year, all looked forward to Bette's Christmas party held in Iowa City.
She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Marengo, Altar and Rosary Society, was a religious education teacher, and a member of the Marengo Legion Auxiliary.
Bette is survived by her children, Denny (Joyce) of Cedar Rapids, Dan (Cludy) of Iowa City, Patrick (Pam) of Felton, Calif., Coleen Sydor of Richmond, Ky., Mike (Leigh) of Des Moines, Jack (Vanessa) of Lakeview, Sean (Jennifer) of Hampton, Ill., Carol Malecek (Donald) of Fairfax, Marlene Lunardi (Bruce) of Bettendorf and Nancy Buss (Alan) of Cedar Rapids; 31 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Carolyn Hanzelka (Dave) of Cedar Rapids.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1976; a daughter, Colleen, in infancy; a granddaughter, Kristin McGivern; two sisters, Marlene Shaull and Bonnie King; a brother, Lawrence Shaull; and her longtime best friend, Dorothy Schumacher.
Online condolences: www.klosterfuneral
home.com.
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