Christine Svidal

Christine Svidal, 66, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Friday, November 04, 2011, at her home in Westwood with her family by her side. Mrs. Svidal wished to have her body donated to the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine for scientific research. A memorial mass will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church with the Rev. Joseph Phung, celebrant. There will be no visitation at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel. Memorials have been established to HCI Care Services or to a charity of the donor's choice. Christine Svidal was born January 12, 1945 in Chester, PA, the daughter of Joseph and Genevieve "Jean" (Chamberlin) Brooks. She spent her formative years in Chester, and graduated from high school there. She married Earl Barrow in Florida. The couple later divorced. On June 25, 1977, she married Robert "Bob" Svidal in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Christine worked as a customer liaison for Motorola in south Florida for many years. Later she worked as a bookkeeper for the Patterson Dental Supply Company. The Svidals moved to Mt. Pleasant in 1993. Since that time, she has given an extensive amount of her time for a number of organizations in Henry County. Christine has been an active member of the Henry County Health Center Auxiliary, RSVP, the Womans Club, PEO Chapter OX and a charter member in the AM VETS Auxiliary Post 44. She was an avid volunteer for Henry County Hospice and was named the Volunteer of the Year in 1999. Christine enjoyed quilting, bowling, reading, fresh water fishing and deep sea fishing. Members of Christine's family include, her husband, Bob Svidal of Mt. Pleasant, IA; three daughters, Rebecca (David) Engelsman of Lincoln, KS, Linda (John) DeLisle of Morresville, NC, and Elizabeth (David) Darwin of Mt. Pleasant, SC; five grandchildren, Anthony Cova, John DeLisle, Kristi (Alan) Ragsdale, Amber (T.J.) Sinclair and Jason Engelsman; and four great-grandchildren, Lily Sinclair, Brandon Sinclair, Addie Ragsdale and Aiden Ragsdale. Also surviving is a sister, Bridget Goldblatt of New Castle, DE; four step grandchildren, Michael, Kayla and Anthony Darwin and Ashley (Jeremy) Vogel; and one step great-granddaughter, Savanna Vogel. Christine is preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Robert Brooks and Don Brooks; and two sisters, Betty Jane Warfel and Marcia Snedeker.