Mary Loretta Scieszinski

Mary Loretta Scieszinski, age 98 of Melrose, passed away on Saturday, May 25, 2013, at Circle of Life Legacy Lodge Hospice in Chariton. Mary was born May 18, 1915, to Richard and Loretta (Murphy) Hannam on the family farm south of Melrose. She married Vincent Bernard Scieszinski August 17, 1940 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Melrose. After 49 years together, he preceded her in death on December 29, 1989. A graduate of Melrose High School, Mary received her teaching certificate from William Penn. She taught at the Wayne country school, St. Anthony's in Des Moines, St. Mary's in Albia, and finished in Russell. She later worked in the Melrose school cafeteria, and was also the city clerk in Melrose for 25 years. Mary was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and St. Patrick's Altar and Rosary Society in Melrose, and the Irish Green Hat Society. She was very giving person who never knew a stranger, and when her mom was sick with cancer, she took care of her. She was a wonderful mother who was a very talented sewer and enjoyed baking pies and cooking chicken. She also liked word searches and her grandkids were everything to her. Mary is survived by three children, Linda Coady of Waukee, Karen Smith of Waukee, and JoAnn McGee of Chariton; ten grandchildren, Jeffrey Smith, Jill (Greg) Brammer, Kurt (Angela) Smith, Marla (Steve) Austin, John (Jen) Coady, Melia (Nolan) Johnson, Vickie (Greg) Vlasek, Tricia (Danny) Knowles, Scott (Jenny) McGee, and Donnie (Brenda) McGee; 26 great grandkids; a brother, John (Mary) Hannam; and a niece, Carol (Mike) Cosgrove. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; and three sons-in-law, James Coady, Joe Smith, and Bernard McGee. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Saturday, June 1, 2013, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Melrose, with Fr. Patrick Lumsden officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Melrose. Visitation will be 4-9 p.m., Friday, May 31, 2013, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Melrose with Mary's family present. A rosary will be led at 7:30 p.m. Friday evening at the church. Mary Scieszinski's family would like to give a special thank you to all the staff at Circle of Life Legacy Lodge Hospice in Chariton for the wonderful care they gave their mother. Memorials may be made to Circle of Life Legacy Lodge in Chariton or Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Melrose.

Mary Loretta Scieszinski

May 18, 1915 - May 25, 2013