Mary Anne Coady, 79, passed away November 3, 2015 at Northcrest Community, surrounded by her children.
A gathering of friends and family will be Sunday, November 15, 2015 from 2-4pm. Rosary will be from 2:00 -2:30 pm for those interested, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 2210 Lincoln Way in Ames., IA. Remembrances will be shared at the end of the gathering.
A Mass of Christian Burial memorial service will be Monday, November 16, 2015, 10:30 a.m., at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Followed by a luncheon in the church basement.
Mary Anne was born January 18, 1936 to William and Mary Aletha Gannon, in Bondurant, Iowa. She grew up on farms in the Bondurant, Oskaloosa, Albia, and Georgetown areas, and graduated from Georgetown High School in 1953 in a class of 5. After high school, she went on and received her nursing degree from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Ottumwa in 1956. Shortly after becoming a nurse, Mary Anne married Larry Coady on December 29, 1956, and they were blessed with 10 children.
Mary Anne devoted her life to her family. During her nursing career she worked in pediatrics, ER, homecare and at the ISU Student Health Center. She retired as a hospice nurse at Homeward Hospice, now known as Mary Greeley Hospice; her most fulfilling nursing role. She was very active in 4-H as a youth. In later years, she was very involved with the I.S.U. Electrical Engineering Women's Group, and she was a member of multiple bridge clubs. During the 26 years her children attended the Ames Public Schools she was very active and involved with the schools and the many activities in which her children were involved. She was a long-time member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church where she volunteered her time in various capacities. Mary Anne loved arts & crafts, and gardening. She became an accomplished quilter, quilting a blanket for each of her children, and numerous grandchildren.
In 1988, they bought a home in Clear Lake where they enjoyed their time on the lake with many large gatherings of family and friends. After Mary Anne and Larry retired, they were blessed with being able to travel and enjoyed many cruises and trips with friends. Mary Anne was well known for effortlessly hosting many large parties and celebrations where fun was had by all. Mary Anne always said, "the more the merrier."
Mary Anne is survived by her 10 children - Suzanne (Jim) Rock, Michelle (Susan Sullivan) Coady, Dan (Ann) Coady, Kayleen (Bob) Catus, Linda (Mark) Vanderpoel, Sheila Coady, Sam Coady, Ellen Coady, Amy (Tom) Courneya, and Anne (Mark) Evans, 16 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by, Larry Coady, her loving husband of 56 years, in March 2013, and her brothers, Michael and James, and her parents, William and Mary Aletha Gannon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Patrick's Catholic Church Georgetown, P.O. Box 183 Albia, Iowa 52531, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 2210 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa 50014, or MGMC Foundation c/o Mary Greeley Home Hospice, 1111 Duff Avenue Ames, Iowa 50010.
Online condolences may be directed to: www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com