O'Brien, Kathleen 'Kay'

Kathleen “Kay” O'Brien, 84, of Iowa City, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, at Oaknoll Health Center. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Ken Kuntz officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City, where a rosary will be recited at 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary's Catholic Church or the Kay O'Brien Memorial Fund.

Kay was born Nov. 15, 1924, in Iowa City, the daughter of Jeremiah and Mary Fitzpatrick Lynch. She was a graduate of St. Patrick's High School and the Iowa City Business College. On Nov. 22, 1944, Kay married Edward “Eddie” O'Brien in Iowa City. Kay was employed at First National Bank for 15 years as the safety deposit attendant, retiring in 1986. Following retirement, Kay and her husband were greeters at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service.

Kay was a longtime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Altar and Rosary Society. Family and faith

were most important in Kay's life. She was also proud of her Irish heritage. Kay and Eddie were loyal supporters of Iowa Hawkeye athletics and Regina schools.

Kay was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

Kay is survived by her five children: Jeanne (Ed) Von Feldt of Cedar Rapids and their children, Katie (Wade) Baxter and Patrick; Joanne “Jo” Thiessen (Fred) Riddle of Iowa City and children, Kent (Camaren) Riddle and Erin; Jim (Sue) O'Brien of Bettendorf and their children, Michael (Monica), Kelly and Katie; Michael (Michelle) O'Brien of Toledo, Ohio and their son, Jack; and Mary (Jay) Brandhorst of Central City and their children, Casey (Lindsey) and Sean; five great-grandchildren, Jack, Anna, Isabella, Rori and Blake; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Eddie; son-in-law, Denny Thiessen; and siblings, Larry, Tom, Francis, Leo and Donald Lynch and Marcella Hogan, Celeste Pechous, Agnes Streb, Clotilda Langenberg and Lillian Rohret.

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