"Ann and family, My sincere sympathies to you and your family as you mourn the passing of your mother. I know how much you loved her, took care of her and she knows, too. As she has passed now and gone up to heaven to be with her loved ones just know she is at peace and that she will be in your heart and memories FOREVER. There is not a day I do not think of my parents and how I miss them, but this is good as they are happy, sweet, loving memories as I know yours will be, too. I will not be able to attend any services as I had surgery and cannot ride in a car yet, but I just wanted you to know I am thinking and praying for you at this time. God Bless Trudy McNulty"
In loving memory of
Mildred (Millie) O'Dowd Hughes
November 29, 2006
Mildred Mary (McGinnis) O'Dowd Hughes, daughter of Edward and Mary (Lynch) McGinnis, was born on June 7, 1912, in Mills County, Iowa, near Imogene. She passed away on Wednesday, November 29, 2006, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Red Oak, Iowa, at the age of 94.
Millie's early life was spent growing up on farms in the Imogene area. She attended the Morning Star and Honey Creek country schools before entering St. Patrick's School in the third grade and graduated from St. Patrick's with the Class of 1930. Following graduation, Millie attended Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in Maryville, Missouri. She taught elementary school for 20 years in rural Fremont County, Neola, Mapleton and last at Broad Street School in Shenandoah, Iowa. On August 5, 1950, Millie was united in marriage to Gilbert (Gib) O'Dowd at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shenandoah. Following their marriage they farmed northwest of Shenandoah. In 1962, they moved to a farm south of Corning, Iowa, with their two daughters. Gib passed away in 1968 and Millie continued to operate the farm until 1977, when she moved back to Shenandoah. She worked as an Avon Representative for a short time in Corning. On November 5, 1977, Millie was united in marriage to George Hughes, Sr., at St. Mary's Catholic Church. They enjoyed 11 years of marriage until his death in August of 1988. Millie was a faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and served on the St. Mary's Church Guild. In Corning, she was a member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church and St. Patrick's Altar Society. Millie enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, flower gardening and traveling with George. She loved to visit family and attend the grandchildren's events when possible.
Preceding Millie in death were her parents; her husbands, Gilbert O'Dowd and George Hughes, Sr.; and four brothers, John, Bud, Lou and Art McGinnis. Survivors include her two daughters, Ann O'Dowd of Omaha, NE, and Rosemary (O'Dowd) Jobes and her husband Brian of Grinnell, IA; two grandchildren, Jennifer (Jobes) Gill and her husband Bryan of Johnston, IA and Jeremy Jobes and his fiance Aimee Hanna of Altoona, IA; great granddaughter, Alexa Gill of Johnston, IA; two sisters, Faustina McGinnis and Marcella Ryan, both of Shenandoah, IA; eight step-children, Kathy Hughes, Connie Vondra, Veronica Barry, Joyce Swanson, Martha Fritz, Nordie Vondra and their families, all of Omaha, NE, Pat Hughes and family of Syracuse, NE and George Hughes, Jr., and family of Imogene, IA; other relatives and many friends.
Mass of Christian Burial services were held on Saturday, December 2, 2006, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shenandoah. Celebrant was the Rev. Vern Smith. Lector was Jerry McGinnis. Altar servers were Hanna and Amy Fursa. Organist was Mary Beth Gowing. Song leader was Jane Emge. Attending the memory register were Carolyn Ott and Joani McGinnis. Casket bearers were Jeremy Jobes, Bryan Gill, Pat Hughes, Larry Vondra, Ron Wells, Tom McGinnis and Art McGinnis. Ushers were Doug McGinnis and John Ott. Eucharistic Ministers were Karen Walter, Ernie Aust and Vaughn Livingston. Interment was in the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Imogene, Iowa. The Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.hackettlivingston.com on the web.