Marcella Rose Kearney

Marcella Rose Kearney, age 94, of Albia, passed away on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at the Monroe Care Center in Albia. Marcella was born on November 18, 1926, at home in Weller, IA, to Edward and Rose (Keegan) Kearney. She grew up and attended school in Melrose and later graduated from the Albia High School with the Class of 1945. Marcella graduated from Drake University in Des Moines in 1961 and received her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Northeast Missouri State College in 1968. She taught in rural schools for three years and then worked in different businesses until 1958 when she moved to Keokuk, IA and taught the 5th grade in the Keokuk Public Elementary Schools for 31 years, retiring in 1988. Marcella was a former member of All Saints Catholic Church in Keokuk and also belonged to the Ladies of Charity and Church Women United. Marcella enjoyed being outdoors. She loved to take walks along the Mississippi River to watch the boats go up and down the river and through the locks. She also enjoyed having cookouts on the river bank with her friends and was an avid collector of clowns, Santa Clauses and rocks. Marcella is survived by a brother, Cecil (Vera) Kearney of Albia; two sisters-in-law, Marsha and Jean Kearney; and her nephew’s wife, Phyllis Scieszinski-Kearney; and her nieces and nephews, John Kearney, Donald Kearney, Janet Garrett, Karen Kearney, Kathryn Kearney, Kevin Kearney, Kenny Kearney, Jerry Kearney Jr., Lorraine Hausner, Steve Kearney, Mark Kearney, Alana Wilson, Tim Halbur, Dave Halbur, and Daniel Kearney. She is also survived by many great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, and great–great-great nieces and nephews. Marcella is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Rose Kearney; ten brothers, Gerald in infancy, Gerald (Kathy), John (Lucille), Bill (Betty), Vince (Helen), Cyril in infancy, Danny, Paul, Bernard in infancy, and Eddy; two sisters, Sister Mary Marsha Kearney and Donna (LeRoy) Halbur; a niece, Sandy Gruver; and a nephew, Dave “Ronnie” Kearney. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia with Marcella’s family present to greet family and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 5, 2020 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Albia, with Father Mark Yates, C.PP.S. officiating. Burial will follow services at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Albia. Due to the most recent proclamation and enhanced public health measures for the state of Iowa, masks will be mandatory for those in attendance over the age of 2 for both visitation and the funeral service. Memorials have been established to St. Mary’s Cemetery in Albia and St. Mary’s Cemetery in Weller.

Marcella Rose Kearney

November 18, 1926 - December 2, 2020