O'Leary, Betty Jean

Betty Jean O'Leary, 90, died peacefully surrounded by her family Monday, May 21, 2012, at her home in Iowa City, Iowa.

She was born May 10, 1922, in Maynard, Iowa, and grew up in Elgin, Iowa, where she graduated from high school in 1940. For a short time she taught school in Maynard, and later moved to Cedar Rapids and then to Iowa City, where she married her husband of 40 years, Thomas F. O'Leary on Oct. 10, 1945, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Iowa City. Tom died on June 21, 1986. Together they made their home in Iowa City. Betty was a Real Estate broker and owned her own business, Betty J. O'Leary Real Estate, selling farms and homes for 18 years.

She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, where she served on the Altar & rosary Society, Needle Workers and Prayer Line. She volunteered for many years for the Mercy Guild at Mercy Hospital, working the front desk and gift shop, accumulating over 4,000 hours of service.

Betty is survived by her children, Ed (Jane) of Rapid City, S.D., Mike (Terri) of Riverside, Cindy Hazel (Skip) of St. Charles, Minn., and Mary O'Leary (Jean-Francois Barjou) of Paris, France; a daughter-in-law, Delia O'Leary of Dallas, Texas; 15 grandchildren, Tommy and Brian O'Leary, Michelle Vander Leest, Eric and David O'Leary, Ryan O'Leary, Nick Turner, Kevin O'Leary, Missy and Matt Stein, Sherri Hazel, Kristine Vereide, Mike Hazel, Monica Priebe and Mark Paulson; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Tom in 2009; a granddaughter, Tamra; and son-in-law, Dennis Stein.

The family will be present to receive friends beginning at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, with a rosary Service at 6:30 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. in the Day Chapel at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Iowa City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., with in-state at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 30, in the Day Chapel at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Graveside services will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Iowa City.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Betty O'Leary's name to be designated by the family will be appreciated.

Betty's grandson, Eric O'Leary, is handling funeral arrangements.

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Published in The Gazette May 24, 2012.