Doris Katherine O'Malley

Doris Katherine Mary Widhelm O’Malley, age 73, of Des Moines, Iowa, joined her family in heaven on March 3, 2025, surrounded by her loving husband of 50 years, six children, and grandchildren after a courageous battle against lung cancer. She fought with dignity, courage, hope and love. Doris’ greatest joy was being a wife, mother, nana and child of God. She devoted her life to her family, friends, medical providers, patients, and the Catholic Faith. To know Doris was to know love.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Katherine Widhelm, sisters Linda Marie Parson, and Genevieve “Genni” Cerny. Those who continue her legacy include her husband, Michael William O’Malley Sr, a handsome and wholesome person, to whom she built a life together with love that was strong until the end. Together, they had six children, sons Michael William O’Malley Jr. of Phoenix, AZ, and Patrick Austin O’Malley (wife Tanya) of Litchfield Park, AZ, adoring daughters Julia Kathleen O’Malley Jenks (husband Jeff) of Des Moines, IA, Megan Kathleen Aerisolphal (husband Nick) of West Des Moines, IA, Colleen Bridget Frosheiser (husband Joel) of Des Moines, IA and Bridget Kathleen Kautzky (husband Brian) of Scottsdale, AZ. Doris is survived by 16 beautiful grandchildren which were her pride and joy; Jackson O’Malley, JD Jenks, Preston Jenks, Riley Jenks, Grace Aerisolphal, Mason Aerisolphal, Austin O’Malley, Nora O’Malley, Ashton Frosheiser, William O’Malley, Mila Frosheiser, Gwendolyn Frosheiser, Joseph Kautzky, Clare Kautzky, Louis Kautzky and Maximilian Kautzky.

Doris came from humble beginnings in North Bend, NE and was the oldest of 7 children. Doris was a 1969 graduate of North Bend High School in North Bend, NE, and a 1974 graduate of NE Methodist School of Nursing in Omaha, NE. While a nursing student she met a very handsome Michael William O’Malley, who became the love of her life. Doris had a long career helping others by serving as a nurse and helping keep families at ease during their suffering. She worked at Mercy Hospital (Mercy One) and Unity Point Methodist Hospital in the pre-op and surgical departments in Des Moines, IA. She was a three-time winner of the prestigious DAISY Award which recognizes nurses who go above and beyond to provide patients and families with compassion and excellence in clinical care. She retired in November of 2023 after 50 years of nursing.

Doris was a kind and gentle soul who dedicated her life to family and community. She was a beautiful example of kindness, thoughtfulness, and gentleness. Doris loved her backyard victory garden, cooking for her family and friends, making pies from the fruit and berries in her garden, canning all of her produce to make sure nothing went to waste, drinking coffee paired with a smile, nursing and the friendships that formed along the way, wrapping bear hugs around her family, scuba diving, rowing, singing, and social gatherings with the Schola, nurses and friends. She loved to travel, especially back home to North Bend to visit family, to watch the waves and walk the beach in Hawaii and to look over the lake with a cup of coffee in Minnesota. She enjoyed attending her children and grandchildrens’ activities, family reunions, riding in the Model A during parades, playing the bagpipes, learning tap and ball room dancing, listening to music, playing guitar, eating banana pancakes at Mokes, organizing the family’s medical records, learning how to drive their 1931 Model A without ever learning how to start it, and providing her grandchildren with life experiences they will never forget. She took on various leadership roles; President of the Holy Trinity Board of Education, Member of the Holy Trinity Schola, Foreign Language Coordinator to Holy Trinity, Central Iowa Model A Club Activity Director, Dowling High School Pancake Breakfast Coordinator, Religious Education Celebrant Coordinator, Holy Trinity Fall Festival Volunteer, President Bishop Drumm Guild, Girl Scout Troop Leader, Coordinator Kidney Transplant Mercy Surgical Department Leader, devoting her time and talents in many more quiet and unassuming ways.

Looking back over her life, Doris wanted to share some important lessons learned:

1. Help others in need.
2. Don’t waste anything.
3. Love to learn and try new things.
4. Strong work ethic can open opportunities and create unexpected possibilities.
5. Be understanding of others.
6. Marry a spouse with similar values.
7. Save your money and live modestly.
8. Show love to others in a practical way.
9. Remember to smile for everyone you meet. Show Joy, kindness and compassion. Have a sense of humor. Take pride in opening your home to others.
10. Time flies, prepare now for eternity.

Doris will be eternally loved and deeply missed for the rest of our days. May her memory be a blessing. She never truly retired – she faced each day with her sleeves rolled up, a radiant smile, and a heart ready to serve. Her talent shone brightly, but it was her kindness, humility, and unwavering Faith that defined her. Those who knew her will agree, Doris was one of the most selfless souls to ever walk this earth. She approached life with sincerity and placed her trust in God. Even in her final moments, she was not afraid. Instead, she was filled with hope and love just as she had always been.

Her strong will and loving spirit will be greatly missed.

“When I’m no longer a memory but just a name, I hope I have inspired those around me to love God and be charitable to others. God Bless My Dear Family and Friends. One of the most beautiful gifts God gave me is to know folks like you. I love you all!”

“One of my favorite memories is singing this song to my grandchildren before bed:

Good night, good night, it’s time to say good night, good night, good night, it’s time to say good night, I love you and you love me, we’re a happy family good night, good night, good night. Good night. It’s time to close our eyes.”

We invite you to join us in celebrating the life of our cherished mother, nurse, and friend at her Visitation on Friday, March 14, 2025, from 5-7pm at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, 8201 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church at 2926 Beaver Ave, Des Moines, Iowa. The service will be live streamed for those who cannot attend. A Reception will immediately follow at Christopher’s restaurant at 2816 Beaver Ave, Des Moines, Iowa. The Burial will be privately held with the family at Glendale Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Holy Trinity Catholic School Endowment Fund and Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines, Iowa.

To view the livestream, copy and paste into your address bar: https://www.youtube.com/@holytrinitycatholicchurchb1687/streams