Marcella Keefe

Marcella Keefe, age 98, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Aase Hauge Nursing Home in Decorah, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 14, 2012, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 West Main Street, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Phillip Gibbs presiding. Burial will be in St. Bridget’s Catholic Cemetery, Bluffton, Iowa. Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, December 13, 2012 and on Friday morning from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue in Decorah, IA. There will be a Catholic Daughters of America rosary at 4:00 p.m., on Thursday. Bridget Marcella (Kelly) Keefe was born on October 22, 1914, the daughter of John and Sarah (Carolan) Kelly on the family farm near Bluffton, Iowa. Marcella attended country school on the family’s farm property. She married William Keefe on June 8, 1943, at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Bluffton. They farmed together before moving into Decorah in 1950. Marcella was a homemaker and also worked for the Decorah School System in the lunch program, retiring in 1978. Marcella enjoyed sewing, quilting, crocheting, baking, spending time with family and especially playing cards. Marcella was a member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church and a charter member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Marcella is survived by her two children: Mary (Tom) Johnson, Huntley, IL, and Gary Keefe, Ridgeway, IA. Three grandchildren: Marc (Melissa) Johnson, Michael (Julia) Johnson, and Katy (Garrison) Wood. Two great grandchildren: Sarah Johnson and Allie Johnson. One sister-in-law: Rose Henry, Decorah, IA. Marcella was preceded in death by her parents: John and Sarah (Carolan) Kelly. Her husband: William Keefe on October 4, 1997. Her son: Larry Keefe on Oct. 23, 1965. Two sisters: Agnes (Luke) Courtney and Mary (Pete) Gaffney. Four brothers: James (Myrtle) Kelly, William “Bill” (Lucille) Kelly, Frank (Mary) Kelly and Larry (Mary) Kelly. One brother-in-law: Gerald Henry. Memorials may be given in memory of Marcella to St. Benedict Catholic Church, St. Bridget Catholic Cemetery or to the Aase Haugen Nursing Home.