Rolfes, Cecilia Frances

Cecilia Frances Rolfes, 82, of Marion, died peacefully and was delivered to eternal life on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, at her home, surrounded by her loving husband, Elmer, and her family. Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion. Rosary: 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion by members of the Knights of Columbus. Visitation: 4 until 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, where a vigil service will begin at 7 p.m. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids immediately following mass.

Cecilia is survived by her devoted husband, Elmer; four children, Michael (Sue) of Cedar Rapids, Kevin of Redmond, Wash., Geralyn (David) Lloyd of Burlington and Jay (Lynn) of Bettendorf; and four grandchildren, Christina Rolfes of Cedar Rapids, Andrew Lloyd of Austin, Texas, Carmen Lloyd of Minneapolis, Minn., and Hannah Lloyd of Madison, Wis. Also surviving are two stepgrandchildren, Melissa and Justin (Megan) Welsh; one sister, Lillian Rolfes of Calmar; two sisters-in-law, Emma Rolfes of Keystoneand Marie Van Houten of Abilene, Texas; and many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Cecilia was born May 18, 1929, the youngest daughter of Frank A. and Mary L. (Sindelar) Stika. She grew up on a farm in Howard County, Iowa, enjoying all that farm life had to offer, including helping with chores and driving a tractor during the harvest seasons.

In 1947, Cecilia graduated from Rudolphinum High School in Protivin, Iowa. She attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette, earned a teaching degree, and taught in country schools in Howard County for several years. She dearly loved her students and was a dedicated teacher who inspired and motivated many young minds.

On her 24th birthday (May 18, 1953), Cecilia married Elmer Rolfes at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin. They lived in Baltimore, Md., and Norfolk, Va., while Elmer served in the U.S. Navy. Marion, Iowa has since been their home for over 50 years.

Cecilia had many artistic talents. She made and decorated beautiful birthday cakes for family and friends, and worked at the Hy-Vee Bakery as a cake decorator. Cecilia was a good seamstress and homemaker. She loved yellow roses, music, and holidays with family and friends. Being of Czech descent, she baked delicious kolaches.

Preceding her in death were her parents; four sisters, Emma (Stika) Pecinovsky, Elizabeth (Stika) Pecinovsky-Marhoul, Helen (Stika) Pecinovsky and Edith (Stika) Vsetecka-Loberg; one brother, Edward Stika; her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Oswald and Victoria Kout, Harold and Mildred Quirk, John and Christine Rolfes, Arthur and Leo Rolfes, James, William G. and Leo Pecinovsky Sr., James Vsetecka, Tony Marhoul, Carol Loberg and Phil Van Houten; and many other relatives and friends.

Cecilia had a deeply rooted faith in Jesus and Mary, and in angels. Upon entering her home, beautiful angels were on display everywhere. Her dedication to her church and community, her devotion to a prayer life, and her constant trust in our Lord, spoke volumes about Cecilia. We loved her in life and will continue to do so for eternity. Our lives were transformed by her very presence. Blessed and lasting is her memory!

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous, P.O. Box 418, Monticello IA 52310 in Cecilia's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Cecilia at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published Feb. 13, 2012 in The Gazette