Edith M. Howard

EDITH HOWARD MUSCATINE, Iowa - Edith Margaret Fitzgerald Howard, 90, of Muscatine, joined the ranks of Christ's Saints on January 9, 2010, at Lutheran Homes, Muscatine. Funeral Mass will be 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at the Saint Mathias Catholic Church, 215 West Eighth Street. An Honorary Bearer will be Sam Sessler. Casket Bearers will be Vernon McKim, Troy Howard, Randy Howell, Mark Howell, Chris Howell, Bart Howard and John Howard. Burial will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at the church. Memorials may be made to Bishop Hayes Catholic School or Ss. Mary and Mathias Parish. The Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is in charge of her arrangements. Edith was born on February 9, 1919, in Iowa City, the only and cherished child of Thomas and Ida Seiler Fitzgerald. She was united in marriage to Wesley Howard on March 6, 1937, in Saint Mary's Parish Rectory in Muscatine. Growing up primarily in Parnell, Iowa, and the surrounding area, she graduated from Saint Mary's High School in Muscatine, and was a longtime and devout parishioner of Saint Mary's Catholic Church....[more]

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dith devoted her life to her husband of 72 years, Wes, her four beloved children, and her grandchildren. Nothing pleased Edith more in life than to be surrounded by her family and many friends, except perhaps to attend Mass every Sunday on the arm of her husband and children. In Edith's heart and home there was always room for one more. To her, there was always time for one more hug, time to help a friend, or time for conversation with the lonely. She never met a stranger, only new friends. Known for her warm and generous nature, she was also an avid gardener, talented seamstress, and culinary whiz, never too tired to bake more cookies or pies for her family. Her zest for life knew no boundaries as she dared to do just about anything including riding on the back of her son Tom's new motorcycle. To accurately capture the immense love Edith had or the richness of the life she led is impossible to depict in so few words. Surpassed only by her love of God and family was her love for her canine companions, most recently her much loved Rudy. She will be profoundly mourned by her husband, Wesley, her daughter, Mary Lou Howell and her husband, Jerry, her sons, Robert Howard and his wife, Nancy, and William Howard and his wife, Rose, all of Muscatine; one daughter-in-law, Jewell Howard of Tipton; 20 prized grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and two great great-grandchildren. She was lovingly cared for and will be missed by her caregivers, Debbie Lane, Beatrice Vasquez, granddaughter Michelle Sprinkle, Veronica Stone, Jo Fry, and Peggy Hagist. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her son, Tom Howard.