Anita Foley, 86, Shullsburg, died Oct. 10, 2006 at Mercy Hospital, Dubuque, Iowa.
She was born Dec. 6, 1919, in Seymour Township, the only surviving child of Charles and Catherine (Morgan) Gabel. Anita, as she was known to family and friends, graduated from Shullsburg High School in 1937. She was united in marriage to James W. Foley on June 10, 1939 at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, Seymour Township. After her marriage, she moved with Jim into the city of Shullsburg, where they lived for nearly 70 years and raised their six children together.
Their home in Shullsburg, with Jim and Anita at its center, became the primary family gathering point for her grown children and subsequently her grandchildren and great-grandchildren on holidays. The small three-bedroom ranch-style home seemed able to accommodate a remarkable number of people spanning the generations, and the small dining area always seemed to provide ample room for all the great holiday feasts. Summers found the entire family gathering for the Foley Mulligan, an annual event with no definitive purpose other than to provide yet another time for the family to gather. After her husband Jim's passing in 1989, she continued living in the family home, assisted for several years by her daughter, Mary. During these most recent years she continued to host family events, reluctantly agreeing that the Christmas celebration could be conducted in a Madison hotel.
Grandma Nita has been the heart and soul of this family for so very long that it will be a challenge for us to carry on without her, but she has taught us well. Even in her last days, she gathered us all to her bedside to remind us of the importance of family. Without speaking a word, she again taught us about faith, love and family, lessons that are now even more deeply ingrained in each of us. We are all members of a strong, happy, caring and functional family because Grandma Foley taught us so well. We are also a large family, scattered over several states, which prompted the production of the "Foley Family Phone Book" in 2004. The book contains a page for each of the family groups and each group provided information and photos specific to their family.
The following narrative portion of Grandma Anita's page seems especially appropriate to quote here: "I am blessed to have such a wonderful family. Without you I would not be here at all. You take me everywhere. You take me back and forth wherever I want to go. My old brain isn't what it used to be, but it's OK. I guess you can't have everything. The old saying, 'If I was born rich instead of good looking I'd of had a lot of money to give you kids.' Christmas in Madison is great! We are all together sharing our blessings. I wouldn't give up one of you for a million dollars. Enjoy everyday Š the moral of the story is to live for today and not for tomorrow. Don't wait until you're old to start praying. Say a few when you're youngerŠMake time for it. I know it's hardŠnot enough timeŠdo your best. Thank you God for all my blessings in my lifetime."
Anita was an active member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church for many years, its Council of Catholic Women, Catholic Daughters for 62 years, LCBA and Shullsburg Homemakers. She taught CCD classes at St. Matthew's Catholic Church for a number of years and was the church organist. Anita enjoyed music, dance, the Foley Mulligans, holidays with family, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her friends.
She is survived by her children: Ron (Barb) Foley, Shullsburg; Kathy (Dan) Kilpatrick, Neenah; Dan (Linda) Foley, Madison; Mary Foley, Shullsburg; Pam (Dan) Cruse, Davenport, Iowa; a daughter-in-law, Jo Foley, Dubuque, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; her special friends: Sharon Donohoo, Jim Strub, Verlea Glindinning, Betty Metcalf, Evelyn Sanderson, Elva Harker, Margaret Mulcahy, Ann Jamieson, Jill Goffinet, Chelsey Wallace and Nancy Winslow. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents; two sisters: Lucille Gabel and Roselee Gabel; a brother, Vincent Gabel; a son, Gary Foley; and her grandson, Brian Foley.
Mass of Christian Burial was held Oct. 14, 2006 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, Shullsburg. The Rev. James R. Lins officiated. Burial was in St. Matthew Cemetery, Shullsburg Township. A memorial fund has been established in Anita's name. The O'Flahrity-Erickson Funeral Home, Shullsburg, served the family.
The family would like to send a special thanks to the Rev. James R. Lins for all his prayers and visits. They would also like to think the Shullsburg Rescue Squad, especially Ron Wiegel, her good neighbor, and Dr. Debbie Cihak, and the entire staff at Mercy Hospital for their care and concern, and Joanne Huntington for all her visits and gentle care.
She was born Dec. 6, 1919, in Seymour Township, the only surviving child of Charles and Catherine (Morgan) Gabel. Anita, as she was known to family and friends, graduated from Shullsburg High School in 1937. She was united in marriage to James W. Foley on June 10, 1939 at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, Seymour Township. After her marriage, she moved with Jim into the city of Shullsburg, where they lived for nearly 70 years and raised their six children together.
Their home in Shullsburg, with Jim and Anita at its center, became the primary family gathering point for her grown children and subsequently her grandchildren and great-grandchildren on holidays. The small three-bedroom ranch-style home seemed able to accommodate a remarkable number of people spanning the generations, and the small dining area always seemed to provide ample room for all the great holiday feasts. Summers found the entire family gathering for the Foley Mulligan, an annual event with no definitive purpose other than to provide yet another time for the family to gather. After her husband Jim's passing in 1989, she continued living in the family home, assisted for several years by her daughter, Mary. During these most recent years she continued to host family events, reluctantly agreeing that the Christmas celebration could be conducted in a Madison hotel.
Grandma Nita has been the heart and soul of this family for so very long that it will be a challenge for us to carry on without her, but she has taught us well. Even in her last days, she gathered us all to her bedside to remind us of the importance of family. Without speaking a word, she again taught us about faith, love and family, lessons that are now even more deeply ingrained in each of us. We are all members of a strong, happy, caring and functional family because Grandma Foley taught us so well. We are also a large family, scattered over several states, which prompted the production of the "Foley Family Phone Book" in 2004. The book contains a page for each of the family groups and each group provided information and photos specific to their family.
The following narrative portion of Grandma Anita's page seems especially appropriate to quote here: "I am blessed to have such a wonderful family. Without you I would not be here at all. You take me everywhere. You take me back and forth wherever I want to go. My old brain isn't what it used to be, but it's OK. I guess you can't have everything. The old saying, 'If I was born rich instead of good looking I'd of had a lot of money to give you kids.' Christmas in Madison is great! We are all together sharing our blessings. I wouldn't give up one of you for a million dollars. Enjoy everyday Š the moral of the story is to live for today and not for tomorrow. Don't wait until you're old to start praying. Say a few when you're youngerŠMake time for it. I know it's hardŠnot enough timeŠdo your best. Thank you God for all my blessings in my lifetime."
Anita was an active member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church for many years, its Council of Catholic Women, Catholic Daughters for 62 years, LCBA and Shullsburg Homemakers. She taught CCD classes at St. Matthew's Catholic Church for a number of years and was the church organist. Anita enjoyed music, dance, the Foley Mulligans, holidays with family, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her friends.
She is survived by her children: Ron (Barb) Foley, Shullsburg; Kathy (Dan) Kilpatrick, Neenah; Dan (Linda) Foley, Madison; Mary Foley, Shullsburg; Pam (Dan) Cruse, Davenport, Iowa; a daughter-in-law, Jo Foley, Dubuque, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; her special friends: Sharon Donohoo, Jim Strub, Verlea Glindinning, Betty Metcalf, Evelyn Sanderson, Elva Harker, Margaret Mulcahy, Ann Jamieson, Jill Goffinet, Chelsey Wallace and Nancy Winslow. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents; two sisters: Lucille Gabel and Roselee Gabel; a brother, Vincent Gabel; a son, Gary Foley; and her grandson, Brian Foley.
Mass of Christian Burial was held Oct. 14, 2006 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, Shullsburg. The Rev. James R. Lins officiated. Burial was in St. Matthew Cemetery, Shullsburg Township. A memorial fund has been established in Anita's name. The O'Flahrity-Erickson Funeral Home, Shullsburg, served the family.
The family would like to send a special thanks to the Rev. James R. Lins for all his prayers and visits. They would also like to think the Shullsburg Rescue Squad, especially Ron Wiegel, her good neighbor, and Dr. Debbie Cihak, and the entire staff at Mercy Hospital for their care and concern, and Joanne Huntington for all her visits and gentle care.
Anita Foley, 86, Shullsburg, died Oct. 10, 2006 at Mercy Hospital, Dubuque, Iowa.
She was born Dec. 6, 1919, in Seymour Township, the only surviving child of Charles and Catherine (Morgan) Gabel. Anita, as she was known to family and friends, graduated from Shullsburg High School in 1937. She was united in marriage to James W. Foley on June 10, 1939 at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, Seymour Township. After her marriage, she moved with Jim into the city of Shullsburg, where they lived for nearly 70 years and raised their six children together.
Their home in Shullsburg, with Jim and Anita at its center, became the primary family gathering point for her grown children and subsequently her grandchildren and great-grandchildren on holidays. The small three-bedroom ranch-style home seemed able to accommodate a remarkable number of people spanning the generations, and the small dining area always seemed to provide ample room for all the great holiday feasts. Summers found the entire family gathering for the Foley Mulligan, an annual event with no definitive purpose other than to provide yet another time for the family to gather. After her husband Jim's passing in 1989, she continued living in the family home, assisted for several years by her daughter, Mary. During these most recent years she continued to host family events, reluctantly agreeing that the Christmas celebration could be conducted in a Madison hotel.
Grandma Nita has been the heart and soul of this family for so very long that it will be a challenge for us to carry on without her, but she has taught us well. Even in her last days, she gathered us all to her bedside to remind us of the importance of family. Without speaking a word, she again taught us about faith, love and family, lessons that are now even more deeply ingrained in each of us. We are all members of a strong, happy, caring and functional family because Grandma Foley taught us so well. We are also a large family, scattered over several states, which prompted the production of the "Foley Family Phone Book" in 2004. The book contains a page for each of the family groups and each group provided information and photos specific to their family.
The following narrative portion of Grandma Anita's page seems especially appropriate to quote here: "I am blessed to have such a wonderful family. Without you I would not be here at all. You take me everywhere. You take me back and forth wherever I want to go. My old brain isn't what it used to be, but it's OK. I guess you can't have everything. The old saying, 'If I was born rich instead of good looking I'd of had a lot of money to give you kids.' Christmas in Madison is great! We are all together sharing our blessings. I wouldn't give up one of you for a million dollars. Enjoy everyday Š the moral of the story is to live for today and not for tomorrow. Don't wait until you're old to start praying. Say a few when you're youngerŠMake time for it. I know it's hardŠnot enough timeŠdo your best. Thank you God for all my blessings in my lifetime."
Anita was an active member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church for many years, its Council of Catholic Women, Catholic Daughters for 62 years, LCBA and Shullsburg Homemakers. She taught CCD classes at St. Matthew's Catholic Church for a number of years and was the church organist. Anita enjoyed music, dance, the Foley Mulligans, holidays with family, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her friends.
She is survived by her children: Ron (Barb) Foley, Shullsburg; Kathy (Dan) Kilpatrick, Neenah; Dan (Linda) Foley, Madison; Mary Foley, Shullsburg; Pam (Dan) Cruse, Davenport, Iowa; a daughter-in-law, Jo Foley, Dubuque, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; her special friends: Sharon Donohoo, Jim Strub, Verlea Glindinning, Betty Metcalf, Evelyn Sanderson, Elva Harker, Margaret Mulcahy, Ann Jamieson, Jill Goffinet, Chelsey Wallace and Nancy Winslow. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents; two sisters: Lucille Gabel and Roselee Gabel; a brother, Vincent Gabel; a son, Gary Foley; and her grandson, Brian Foley.
Mass of Christian Burial was held Oct. 14, 2006 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, Shullsburg. The Rev. James R. Lins officiated. Burial was in St. Matthew Cemetery, Shullsburg Township. A memorial fund has been established in Anita's name. The O'Flahrity-Erickson Funeral Home, Shullsburg, served the family.
The family would like to send a special thanks to the Rev. James R. Lins for all his prayers and visits. They would also like to think the Shullsburg Rescue Squad, especially Ron Wiegel, her good neighbor, and Dr. Debbie Cihak, and the entire staff at Mercy Hospital for their care and concern, and Joanne Huntington for all her visits and gentle care.
She was born Dec. 6, 1919, in Seymour Township, the only surviving child of Charles and Catherine (Morgan) Gabel. Anita, as she was known to family and friends, graduated from Shullsburg High School in 1937. She was united in marriage to James W. Foley on June 10, 1939 at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, Seymour Township. After her marriage, she moved with Jim into the city of Shullsburg, where they lived for nearly 70 years and raised their six children together.
Their home in Shullsburg, with Jim and Anita at its center, became the primary family gathering point for her grown children and subsequently her grandchildren and great-grandchildren on holidays. The small three-bedroom ranch-style home seemed able to accommodate a remarkable number of people spanning the generations, and the small dining area always seemed to provide ample room for all the great holiday feasts. Summers found the entire family gathering for the Foley Mulligan, an annual event with no definitive purpose other than to provide yet another time for the family to gather. After her husband Jim's passing in 1989, she continued living in the family home, assisted for several years by her daughter, Mary. During these most recent years she continued to host family events, reluctantly agreeing that the Christmas celebration could be conducted in a Madison hotel.
Grandma Nita has been the heart and soul of this family for so very long that it will be a challenge for us to carry on without her, but she has taught us well. Even in her last days, she gathered us all to her bedside to remind us of the importance of family. Without speaking a word, she again taught us about faith, love and family, lessons that are now even more deeply ingrained in each of us. We are all members of a strong, happy, caring and functional family because Grandma Foley taught us so well. We are also a large family, scattered over several states, which prompted the production of the "Foley Family Phone Book" in 2004. The book contains a page for each of the family groups and each group provided information and photos specific to their family.
The following narrative portion of Grandma Anita's page seems especially appropriate to quote here: "I am blessed to have such a wonderful family. Without you I would not be here at all. You take me everywhere. You take me back and forth wherever I want to go. My old brain isn't what it used to be, but it's OK. I guess you can't have everything. The old saying, 'If I was born rich instead of good looking I'd of had a lot of money to give you kids.' Christmas in Madison is great! We are all together sharing our blessings. I wouldn't give up one of you for a million dollars. Enjoy everyday Š the moral of the story is to live for today and not for tomorrow. Don't wait until you're old to start praying. Say a few when you're youngerŠMake time for it. I know it's hardŠnot enough timeŠdo your best. Thank you God for all my blessings in my lifetime."
Anita was an active member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church for many years, its Council of Catholic Women, Catholic Daughters for 62 years, LCBA and Shullsburg Homemakers. She taught CCD classes at St. Matthew's Catholic Church for a number of years and was the church organist. Anita enjoyed music, dance, the Foley Mulligans, holidays with family, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her friends.
She is survived by her children: Ron (Barb) Foley, Shullsburg; Kathy (Dan) Kilpatrick, Neenah; Dan (Linda) Foley, Madison; Mary Foley, Shullsburg; Pam (Dan) Cruse, Davenport, Iowa; a daughter-in-law, Jo Foley, Dubuque, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; her special friends: Sharon Donohoo, Jim Strub, Verlea Glindinning, Betty Metcalf, Evelyn Sanderson, Elva Harker, Margaret Mulcahy, Ann Jamieson, Jill Goffinet, Chelsey Wallace and Nancy Winslow. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents; two sisters: Lucille Gabel and Roselee Gabel; a brother, Vincent Gabel; a son, Gary Foley; and her grandson, Brian Foley.
Mass of Christian Burial was held Oct. 14, 2006 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, Shullsburg. The Rev. James R. Lins officiated. Burial was in St. Matthew Cemetery, Shullsburg Township. A memorial fund has been established in Anita's name. The O'Flahrity-Erickson Funeral Home, Shullsburg, served the family.
The family would like to send a special thanks to the Rev. James R. Lins for all his prayers and visits. They would also like to think the Shullsburg Rescue Squad, especially Ron Wiegel, her good neighbor, and Dr. Debbie Cihak, and the entire staff at Mercy Hospital for their care and concern, and Joanne Huntington for all her visits and gentle care.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
