Mary Laurine Lower

Mary Laurine Lower
April 27, 1921 - March 21, 2011
Parnell, Iowa
Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 pm March 25, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church North English
Funeral Service: 10:30 am March 26, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church North English
Parnell-Mary Laurine Lower was born April 27, 1921 near Holbrook, Iowa, the daughter of Thomas E. And Mary E. (Armstead) Hanson. She graduated from Parnell High School and attended Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls. She taught school for two years. Laurine was united in marriage to Joseph George Lower on July 9, 1941 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Holbrook. She has been a life long resident of the Parnell and Holbrook communities. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Parnell, served actively with the Altar & Rosary Society and was a charter member of the Parnell American Legion Auxiliary. Laurine passed away Monday, March 21, 2011 surrounded by her loving family at the Hospice of the Valley in Glendale, AZ at the age of 89 years. She is survived by eleven children: Elizabeth Szyszka (Walter) of Amana, Dr. Thomas Lower (Ceree) of Osceola, Robert Lower(Dorothy) of Iowa City, Mary Patricia Lower (James Edwards) of Las Vegas, NV, Janet Caldwell (Kevin) of Washington, Francis Lower (Liz) of Riverside, Helen Heisler (Tim) of Glendale, AZ, Donald Lower (Theresa) North Liberty, David Lower (Maria del Mar) of Rota, Spain, Marita Stewart (Rob) of Phoenix, AZ, Susan Lower of Iowa City; a daughter-in-law: Cathy Lower Brown of North Liberty;23 grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 12 step great grandchildren; two brothers: George Hanson (Roberta) of Williamsburg and Thomas Hanson (Sally) of Denver, CO and a brother-in-law: Leonard Lower (Rose) of Williamsburg. Laurine was preceded in death by her parents, husband: Joseph, a daughter: Mary Kathryn, a son: Michael, a son-in-law: William Dickhaus, two brothers: Clement Hanson and Joseph Hanson, three sisters: Norma Hanson, Catherine McDonald and Helen Knight. Laurine brought joy to her friends and family and enjoyed traveling, an active social and family life, baking, cooking, working her crossword puzzles and winning at Scrabble. She will be greatly missed. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 Saturday, March 26, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in North English. Fr. Joseph Roost and Fr. Troy Richmond will concelebrate. Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Parnell. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 pm Friday at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in North English. With a prayer service at 7:00 pm. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service are caring for the arrangements. Memorials are for Rural Employment Alternatives or the Iowa County Food Bank. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.