Darlene Sheehy

A mass of Christian burial for Darlene Mae Sheehy was held 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 30, 2012 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Perry. Visitation was after 1:00 p.m. with family present 6-8 on Thursday, November 29, 2012 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. A vigil service was also held Thursday 7:00 p.m. at Hastings. Officiating was Father David Polich of the St. Patrick Catholic Church. John Blake was the lector. Eucharistic Ministers were Carole O'Hare, Katie Schott, and Georgia Vincent. Cathy Blake and Jean Bowles were gift bearers. Darlene's honorary bearers were: Donald Sheehy Jr., David Sheehy, John Sheehy, Mike Sheehy, Tom Sheehy, John Blake, and Mike Bowles. Musician was Chuck Schott. Gene Peel and Bill O'Hare were ushers. Interment took place at Violet Hill Cemetery here in Perry. Following the services at the cemetery was a luncheon at the St. Patrick School gym. Darlene Mae Sheehy, daughter of Floyd Charles Merical and Velma Edith Smith Merical, was born December 19, 1931 at home in Waukee, Iowa and died November 21, 2012 at Spring Valley Assisted Living in Perry, Iowa. She was 80. Darlene grew up in Waukee where she attended school and graduated high school in 1950. On August 3, 1950 Darlene was united in marriage with Donald Joseph Sheehy at St. Bonaface Catholic Church in Waukee. The couple made their home on a farm in the Washington Township area where they raised their seven children: Cathy, Donald Jr., David, John, Jean, Mike, and Tom. Darlene worked for Dr. Robert Deranleau, some retail stores in downtown Perry, and she was a Mary Kay Consultant. She was a farm wife and a homemaker who enjoyed cooking. When Darlene's baby brother became their neighbor she would cook for him and spoil him. When Donald retired from farming in 1990 they moved to Minburn, Iowa. After Donald's death (1/5/1995) Darlene stayed in Minburn awhile, then to Waukee, and finally Spring Valley Retirement in Perry, Iowa. Darlene was a member of the St. Patrick Catholic Church, the ladies' "Stitch & Chatter" group, and other coffee and card groups. She enjoyed bingo, playing cards, bus trips, but most of all she loved being surrounded by her big family. She had a great sense of humor that she passed on to her children. Darlene was preceded in death by her father in 1969; mother in 1980, husband Donald in 1995; sister Dorothy Walston (Charles); brother Robert Merical; brother-in-laws Maurice and John E. Sheehy; and sister-in-law Rosemary Poffenberger. Darlene will be lovingly remembered by her seven children: Cathy Blake (John) of Plymouth, MN; Donald J. Sheehy Jr. of rural Minburn; David Sheehy and John D. Sheehy (Gladys) both of Perry; Jean Bowles (Mike) of Yale; Mike Sheehy (Susan State) of Marshalltown, and Tom Sheehy (Margie) of Waukee; 14 grandchildren: Brandon Blake, Matthew Blake, Shari Nelson, Angela Nielsen, Jason Sheehy, Brian Sheehy, Stephanie Kinney, Sherilyn Dunlap, Staci Sheehy, Sheila Dillinger, Logan Ohm, Cody Sheehy, Shane Sheehy, and Blake Sheehy; 13 great-grandchildren; brother Ron Merical of rural Minburn; sister Deanna Potter of West Des Moines; brother-in-law Ray Sheehy (Ann) of Ardmore, OK; sister-in-laws Dorothy Merical of Waukee, Sharon Prince of Jamaica, Edine Hoes of Lake Mary, FL, and Janice Grimes of Ft. Collins, CO; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and good friends. Memorials in Darlene's name are suggested to HCI of Perry and St. Patrick Foundation. www.hastingsfh.com