Lilly, Maureen Claire

Maureen Claire Lilly, 79, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at West Ridge Care Center. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Matthew Catholic Church, by the Rev. David Beckman. Interment: Mount Calvary Cemetery. A family rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. and a prayer service held at 7 p.m. Thursday Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, where friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friends may also call after 9:30 a.m. Friday at the church.

Survivors include her children, Thomas J. (Elizabeth) Lilly of Cedar Rapids, Dr. Theodore (Cheri) Lilly of Burleson, Texas, Dr. Jeffrey (Lynn) Lilly of Urbandale, and Kathleen (Richard) Curphey of Cedar Rapids; sisters, Shannon Lynch of Varina and Linda (Patrick) Groff of Omaha, Neb.; brothers, Charles (Dorothy) Kapsch of Humboldt and Patrick (Doris) Kapsch of Overland Park, Kan.; 13 grandchildren, Caelen, Keegan, Ryan, Bethany, Anna, Megan, Caroline, Jack, Kaitlinn, Sean, Bryan, Danny and Kevin; and three great-grandchildren, Aiden, Nathan and Lilly.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Tom; an infant son, Michael; a brother; two sisters-in-law and two brothers -in-law.

Maureen was born Dec. 1, 1932, in Pocahontas, to August and Leona Kapsch. She graduated from St. Columbkille High School in Varina, Iowa. Maureen married Thomas E. Lilly there on Aug. 1, 1953. He died in 2007. She worked at Square D for over 30 years, retiring in 1994.

Maureen was a faithful member of St. Matthew Catholic Church and was responsible for its prayer line for many years. She avidly followed Xavier High School girl's basketball.

Maureen was proud to be a feisty Irish woman whose purpose in life was to be a good wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Maureen was and will continue to be her families' “Prayer Warrior.”

The family would like to thank the staff at West Ridge Care Center as well as the staff at St. Luke's Hospice for their loving care. They also would like to thank St. Matthew Parish for their prayers and support.

Memorials may be directed to St. Matthew Catholic Church.

Online condolences may be sent to  under obituaries.

Published Jan. 19, 2012, in The Gazette