Person:Madonna Ryan (1)

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Friday, September 13, 2013

Madonna Slattery Johnston Madonna "Donna" Slattery Johnston, 84, of Windsor Park, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013. Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Holy Spirit Parish-Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Rev. Duane Thoman officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Iowa. Friends may greet the family from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Hoffmann Schneider Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 1640 Main St., is entrusted with arrangements. Donna was born on May 2, 1929 in Otter Creek, Iowa, daughter of Thomas and Loretta (Anglin) Ryan. She married Melvin Michael Slattery on April 18, 1950, in Otter Creek; he preceded her in death on Jan. 4, 1982. She then married Roger Johnston on Feb. 9, 1985; he preceded her in death on July 18, 1986. When her youngest son started school, Donna went to work at Sacred Heart as a teacher's aide, where she worked for many years. She also was employed at Loras in housekeeping for 10 years and in security at Venture Store for many years, often saying that she "opened and closed" the store. At the age of 80, Donna began working at Grace Point Church Day Care, taking care of the children on Sunday mornings. She dearly loved that church and made many special friends there. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, including the Rosary Society and Mother's Club. Her faith was very important to her, and she practiced it by helping others and always being there for people. She was also a member of the "Stafford Street Girls," and enjoyed their frequent lunch meetings. Donna will be remembered as an extraordinary caretaker to many, including friends and family. She loved feeding people and maintaining the family connections with extended family. She will be sadly missed. Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Roger (Karlene) Slattery, of Dubuque, Allan (Mary) Slattery, of Mustang, Okla., and Robert (Lori) Slattery, of Dubuque; her grandchildren, Luke (Alexandra), Adam (Chelsey), Matthew, Dylan, and Alex Slattery, and Shane (Joey Iacopelli) Schafer; a great-grandchild, Vaughn Slattery; two sisters, Mardell Mayberry, of Omaha, Neb., and Anita Paris, of Dubuque; two sisters-in-law, Margaret Ryan, of Cascade, Iowa, and Joyce Udelhofen, of Lancaster, Wis.; and many extended family members and friends. She also was preceded in death by her son, Mark Slattery; two brothers, Bill and Loras Ryan; and two brothers-in-law, Ronald Mayberry and Alan Paris. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Dubuque. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hoffmannschneiderfuneral homes.com. The family would like to extend a special thank-you to her dear friend Mary Schlarman, of Dubuque, for her devoted care and friendship to Donna; to Brianna Bell, also for her friendship; and to Dr. Christian Schultheis, Dr. Thomas Schreiber, the staff and nurses on the 3rd floor at Mercy Hospital and to Hospice of Dubuque for their care of Donna.