Lydia Mary Elias

LYDIA MARY ELIAS

Cedar Rapids

4/17/1927 8/8/2017

Lydia Mary Elias, 90, of Gulfport, Fla., formerly of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully and surrounded by family at her home Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 8, 2017.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Father Christopher Podhajsky. Burial will follow at St. John's Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, where a vigil service begins at 7 p.m.

Lydia is survived by her sons, David (Jan) of Richmond, Texas, Don of St. Petersburg, Fla., Ken (Amy) of Jacksonville, Fla., and Keith (Kelly) of Gulfport, Fla. She also is survived by her sisters, Vera Wallace and Vlasta (Arnie) Langer, both of Cedar Rapids; 10 loving grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis "Louie," to whom she was married for 59 years; her parents, John and Blanche Klima; her brother, Joe; and her sister, Mary Swenka.

Lydia worked for many years at Me Too food stores and as a cook at College Community Schools. Later, she volunteered many hours and smiles at the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, and also made kolaches for fundraisers at both St. Wenceslaus and St. Ludmila's churches. Following Louie's death in 2008, she moved to Florida in 2010, close to her beloved sons. While she now has gone to a better place, she will be sorely missed by her family and friends.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church or the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library.

Online condolences may be left for Lydia's family at www.papich-kubafs.com under obituaries.