Person:Alice Ryan O'Neill (1)

Alice M. O’Neill Tayek, 97, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, January 18, 2014, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 23rd, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Jim Dubert officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Wednesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 3:45 pm scripture service.

Alice Marie O'Neill Tayek was born January 20, 1916, in Waukon, IA, the daughter of Ed and Ella (Regan) Ryan. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. Alice attended rural country schools, St. Patrick Catholic School, graduated from Waukon High School, and later graduated from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA. On December 26, 1939, she married Harold O'Neill at St. Patrick Catholic Church. They farmed together in the West Ridge area in rural Waukon for several years, where they also raised their family. Harold died in 1974. Alice taught in several country schools in the Waukon area and at West Elementary School in Waukon before retiring in 1978. She took great pride in teaching, and loved being with the students. On March 16, 1979, she married Edwin Tayek at St. Patrick Catholic Church.

Alice was a former member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church at West Ridge, St. Patrick Catholic Church in Monona, IA, and a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon; she was involved with all of their ladies' groups. Alice enjoyed cooking, sewing, trail ride picnics, playing cards, and gardening. She loved nature, especially taking walks, picking wild flowers, and watching birds and squirrels. She also enjoyed spending time with her family and telling stories about her students that she had taught. Alice was very proud of her Irish heritage. Alice's greatest love was her children and grandchildren; she always had a special way of making each and everyone feel special. The children that she taught were all a special part of her life. Some of Alice's happiest memories were having all her children and their friends at home eating around the table, enjoying the love and laughter that they shared.

Survivors include her children: Marie (Ed) White of Rensselaer, IN, Ed O’Neill of Shellsburg, IA, Kate (Pat) Curtin of Waukon, Meg O’Neill of Marion, IA, Frank (Donna) of Waukon, and Tom O’Neill of Waukon; 18 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; her step-children: Jerry (FaraWayne) Tayek of Monona, Jim (Janet) Tayek of McGregor, IA, Joyce (Bob) Saacke of Farmersburg, IA, Bob Tayek of McGregor; all her step-grandchildren; a sister-in-law Eleanor Ryan of Waukon; and all her nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands: Harold, and Edwin, who died in 1995; a sister Connie Howes; and two brothers: Edward and Charles Ryan.

Honorary casketbearers are her grandchildren: Troy and Michael White, Tina Parizek, Tammy Troendle, Travis and Trampes Curtin, Michael, Benjamin, Paul, William, and Lukas O'Neill, and Jennifer Cruse. Casketbearers are her grandchildren: Dave White, Joe, Aaron, and Shawn O'Neill, Todd Curtin, and Matt Shepard.