Marcella McDermott

MARCELLA MCDERMOTT

DeWitt

Marcella Rose McDermott, 92, of Petersville, died Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, at Mill Valley Care Center, Bellevue.

Marcella Rose McDermott was born Oct. 12, 1922, in Kimball, S.D., to John and Wilhelmina (Geppert) Irwin. Her family came to Iowa when she was a young girl and she graduated from Welton High School in 1941. Marcella was united in marriage to Edward Leonard McDermott on Oct. 1, 1942, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Petersville. They left briefly in 1945 when they moved to DeWitt, but they returned to the Irwin farm in 1949 and rejoined the parish. The couple remained on "the old home place" farming the land and raising their family until 1984 when they retired and moved into the Immaculate Conception church rectory. They spent their retirement caring for the church grounds and cemetery. Leonard preceded Marcella in death on Oct. 3, 1993. She continued the groundskeeping until moving to DeWitt in 1998. Marcella also owned and operated Marcella McDermott Custom Drapery Service for over

40 years.

Marcella was a lifelong member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church where she served as a eucharistic minister and sacristan and was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, hanging Christmas lights, dancing, playing the accordion and organ, watching Lawrence Welk, playing cards and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Marcella is survived by her children and their spouses, Jack and Becky McDermott of Maquoketa, Judy and Jim Wolfe of Hiawatha, Susan and Tony Kalb of Dubuque and Dick and Jennifer McDermott of Channahon, Ill.; grandchildren, Sarah (Dale) Stolte, Anna (Andy) White, Matthew (Amber) Wolfe, Emily (Nathan) Dolezal, Megan Kalb, Tara (Jon) Boyes, Gina (fiance Cody Page) Kalb, Jayme Kalb, Rick McDermott, Reilly McDermott and Allison McDermott; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Delores Spain; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband of 51 years, Leonard, she was preceded in death by a son, Edward; a great-grandson, Rowan Dolezal; and brothers, Lloyd and Harold Irwin.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt, with a rosary at 7 p.m. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Petersville. Msgr. James Burnett will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed and a photo tribute viewed at www.schultzfuneral

homes.com.