Blanche Dermody

Blanche Dermody
March 20, 1925 - January 17, 2011
Parnell, Iowa
Visitation: 3:00 PM January 21, 2011 at Powel Funeral Home
Funeral Service: 10:00 AM January 22, 2011 at St. Mary's Catholic Church
Parnell-Blanche Marie Dermody was born March 20, 1925 in Liberty Township, Keokuk County, Iowa. The daughter of Joseph and Marie (Giblin) O'Rourke. She was baptized at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Little Creek, Keokuk County on March 29, 1925 and also confirmed at St. Patrick's. Blanche attended Hickory Ridge country school until March 1939 when the family moved to a farm south of Parnell. She graduated from Parnell High School in 1943. She attended Ottumwa Heights College/St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Ottumwa graduating in 1946. She began her nursing career at the Miller Hospital in Williamsburg. Blanche was united in marriage to Clement Dermody on May 21, 1947 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Parnell. The couple lived in Williamsburg for a short time, then moved to their new home on a farm east of Parnell. Blanche also worked at the Marengo Memorial Hospital, University of Iowa Hospital on the eye ward, Johnson County Home, Iowa City Care Center, Oaknoll Retirement Center, English Valley Care Center and volunteered for Hospice. Blanche was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Blanche died Monday, January 17, 2011 at the English Valley Care Center at the age of 85 years. Blanche is survived by her husband Clement of North English; three sons: James Dermody of Amana, Larry (Mary) Dermody of Parnell and Patrick (Sheryl) Dermody of Parnell; a daughter: Diane (Doug)Rowe of Conroy; fourteen grandchildren, seven great grandchildren;.two sisters: Patsy (Donald) Peiffer of Cedar Rapids and Helen (Merv) Donohoe of Parnell. Blanche is preceded in death by her parents, a sister Maxine Escher, and a brother-in-law Claude Escher.. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am Saturday January 22, 2011 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Williamsburg. Presider Father Joseph Roost. Burial will be at St. Michael's Cemetery in Holbrook, Iowa. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 7:00 PM Friday, January 21, 2011 with a Rosary starting at 3:00 pm at the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Williamsburg. Memorials are for the Friends of old St. Michael's or St. Mary's Catholic Church. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.