Linda Marie Parson

Linda Marie Parson, age 71, Moravia, IA, passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at MercyOne in Centerville, IA, under the care of EveryStep Hospice. Linda was born on September 2, 1952, in Fremont, NE, to Ralph and Katherine (Lemke) Widhelm. She grew up attending school and graduated from North Bend High School. On September 1, 1973, she was united in marriage to Steve Parson and to this union, 3 children were born, Aubrey, Natalie, and Nolan. Linda and Steve later divorced. On April 21, 2001, Linda married Carl McElroy. Linda and Carl shared 19 years of marriage prior to his passing on July 12, 2020. Linda was a lifelong Catholic who was very strong in her faith. She enjoyed being outdoors, vegetable and flower gardening. Her passion was bicycling with her husband, Carl. She was very talented with arts and crafts. She loved to paint, especially Easter eggs and bunnies, as well as embroidering. Linda and Carl enjoyed traveling and his career with the NOAA provided opportunities for them to live in locations including Camp Springs, Maryland, Brownsville, Texas, Barrigada, Guam, and Miami, Florida. Above all else, family was everything to Linda and she cherished all of the time she spent her children, brothers, sisters, and especially her grandchildren. Linda is survived by 3 children, Aubrey (Mike) Robinson, Natalie (Travis) Hunter, and Nolan (Karen Meredor) Parson; her grandchildren Peyton, Kaylen, Clayton, and Jayden Robinson, Brooks Hunter, and Emily and Avery Parson; and 6 siblings, Doris (Mike) O’Malley, Gary (Robin) Widhelm, Jane (Don) O’Neill, Nancy (Denny) Petersen, Greg Widhelm, and Genni (Steve) Cerny. Linda is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins, and good friends. Linda is preceded in death by her husband, Carl McElroy and her parents, Ralph and Katherine Widhelm. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on Monday, April 1, 2024, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Linda’s family present to greet family and friends. A Rosary will be held at 4:00 p.m. led by St. Mary’s Altar and Rosary Society. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Albia, with Father Mark Yates, C.PP.S. and Father Timothy Armbruster, C.PP.S. co-officiating. Burial will follow services at Hillcrest Cemetery in Moravia, IA. Memorials have been established to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Albia or Centerville and to EveryStep Hospice.

Linda Marie Parson

September 2, 1952 - March 27, 2024