116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Mary Cahalan
MARY CAHALAN
Cedar Rapids
Mary Frances Cahalan, 83, of Payson, Ariz., passed away at home on Sunday, April 27, 2014, with her husband of 61 years by her side, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Fran was born Dec. 31, 1930, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Before attending the University of St. Louis (Mo.), she graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in 1949. On April 11, 1953, she married Albert James Cahalan. In 1955, the family moved to Des Moines, where they raised their four children, David, John, Maureen and Bill. Payson, Ariz., became Fran and Al's new home-town in 1994.
Never one to be idle outside of working in secre-tarial/administrative positions and full-time motherhood, Fran was active in Cub Scouts, baseball, the Sunday Meal program at St. Ambrose Cathedral and other civic activities in Des Moines. Payson's community was blessed with her time and care at the St. Vincent de Paul Community Food Bank, Community Kids and the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park (volunteer park guide).
Fran and Al also were blessed to be able to travel across the country and the world to include Italy, Turkey, Greece, South America, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
Fran's unlimited energy, spirit, compassion, humor and love of family, friends and life made her the best wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend that anyone could ask for.
Survivors include her husband, Albert; daughter, Maureen Cahalan, Payson, Ariz.; son, Bill (Sonya), El Paso, Texas; daughter-in-law, Theresa Cahalan, Mesa, Ariz.; grandchildren, Shaun Cahalan, Sara Cahalan, Jaime Mendez, Andrew Cahalan, Zachary Chenoweth, Joshua Cahalan, Lisa Cahalan and James Cahalan; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her sons, John (July 2002) and David (March 2011); her parents and four siblings.
Fran donated her body to the University of Arizona Willed Body Program in hopes that her death may benefit others in the future.
Memorial Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at St. Phillip the Apostle Church in Payson, Ariz.
The family requests memorial contributions be given to a charity or cause of your choice.
Daily Newsletters