My mother died on August 25, 2007 and I miss her very much. She was 78 years young and I thought she would live to be 100. I loved hearing the stories at her funeral from my beautiful grey-haired Aunts and Uncles, and also some beautiful cousins and dear friends. I wish I had a recorder as now the memories are fleeting. I guess we need to write things down. I have often gotten onto this site, created by my sister Tricia, and I am so grateful for having it to read and see photos of my parents. Thanks so very much Tricia! It's All Good! Glad that I, finally, am able to add to a few things.
Always in touch with the sky...I remember the evening before her funeral was the most brilliant Full Moon. My mom was the oldest daughter of Wm. Anthony and Margaret Halligan, the second child in a family with eleven children. She had seven sisters and four brothers (one of which died when a toddler) I have always thought of the constellation Pleiades, or commonly known as Seven Sisters, when thinking of my Aunts and mother. This is a wonderfully tight knit Irish Clan of people and important to note that nobody grey haired has died in this big family since my grandparents, when I was seven...we have been a very lucky family when you think of that. Look into the sky at Pleiades or the moon and see mom and dad, Grandma & Grandpa Halligan, Keith Stanek, John Newberry, and other relatives who have gone to the heavens, they are still with us. Memories help us remember and it is so important, I need things in front me - like the Moon and the Stars : )
FROM HER FUNERAL PROGRAM: Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home
The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen ~Philippians 4:23
Margie Ann Hurdel January 6, 1929 - August 25, 2007
Her funeral was Wednesday, August 29th, at 10:30 a.m. Reverend Tim Johnson was the clergyman and the interment was at Corpus Christi Cemetery and we set butterflies free at the end of the ceremony.
Uncle Ken sang at the funeral, as did Heather and Erin - that was beautiful. The casket-bearers: Bill, Joe & TJ, Ryan, Justin, Joe & Kyle Ruge, and Erin Halligan.
Family and Friends are invited to a luncheon at Sacred Heart Parish Center immediately following the committal services at the cemetery.
I have never given very deep thought to a philosophy of life, though I have a few ideas that I think are useful to me. One - is that you do whatever comes your way as well as you can, and another - is that you think as little as possible about yourself and as much as possible about the other people and about things that are interesting, the third - is that you get more joy out of giving joy to others and should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give. - Eleanor Roosevelt
Kind hearts, like garden flowers, bring grace and beauty to the world.
May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, And the rain fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand. Irish Blessing
Those thankful for having shared in Margie's life include her children Cheryl Hurdel, Shelley Stanek, Tracy (Joe) Schmoker, John Hurdel, Tom (Leanne Hurdel, Tricia (Bill) Sullivan; her grandchildren, Justin Hurdel, Ryan, Heather & Amy Stanek, Anna, TJ & Lily Schmoker, Erin & Alex Hurdel, Joseph, Michael, Grace & Sean Sullivan; her brothers Bill, Don & Ken Halligan, her sisters Adeline Ruge, Esther Spoo, Lucille Cadwell, Georgia Brainerd, Carol Reis & Charlotte Newberry; their families and Margie's dear friends. Margie was preceded in death - by her husband, Daryl 'Mert' Hurdel, her parents, her brother James Bernard, and her son-in-law Keith Stanek. Margie Ann Halligan was born at home on January 6, 1929, the daughter of William Anthony and Margaret Ellen (Morgan) Halligan, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School in 1947, and attended Fort Dodge Junior College. Margie worked at the Telephone Company of Fort Dodge, Becker Florist, and Palmer Keepsakes. Margie met her husband, Mert at the local dances. On June 17, 1957, Margie was united in marriage to Daryl E. "Mert' Hurdel at Corpus Christi Church. They established their home and raised their family in Fort Dodge living in the same house for 50 years. Margie was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, volunteering in Monican Mothers, Peace & Justice, as a Lector, a Cantor, and the Funeral Committee and Choir. She also organized the Eucharistic gifts and greeters for more than 20 years. Over the years, she enjoyed sewing, embroidering, crocheting, cooking and cleaning. She also loved being outside for walks, her flowers, gardening and bird watching. Other hobbies in her life include ice-skating, dancing, and golfing. Margie was an amazing woman who did small things with great love. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. She was intensely proud of every member of her family, and leaves a legacy for all who remember the moments she shared through example, her heart of gold, peacefulness, and faithfulness. Margie was a gentle woman of God. Her spirit of love and grace will always be with us. We are touched by the love and support of all our families and friends. We feel truly blessed to have all of you in our lives. The Family of Margie Hurdel
Adeline's memories, she said that she always had to check with Margie to make sure her memories are accurate, that she really misses being able to do that since Margie has died. This was just something that she could always count on and it is hard now that that is missing in her life. She now talks to Jean a lot in the same way as they were the three oldest children of 11 and they want to record some of the memories. The Halligan Cousins Website is really special...it means something. Adeline said a great memory is of she and Margie going uptown to get a christmas tree, a really big one! If you can imagine two young girls say 11 and 12 hauling a christmas tree all the way home on foot each carrying an end of the large, tall christmas tree. Adeline said that she has a card on her mantle at home that reminds her of this.
Margie was very creative and a wonderful sewer, she used to make such beautiful clothing. She once made Adeline a short cotton red robe that opened in the front, it was really pretty. She also made herself a very lovely ice-skating outfit with a reversible skirt. She was a terrific skater and practiced often. Dad used to take us skating over at Hydro Electric.
Adeline will add lots more memories, we are going to record her very soon and put them all in writing.
I remember mom… taking a break from her household tasking to come out in the front yard to race. She would line right up with all the kids, at the starting line of our yard, and race through 4 yards to the finish line down at the end of the road. She would usually win.
She taught each of us girls to sew – she had the most beautiful black sewing machine, she was so careful and meticulous, I loved to watch her hands, so graceful and smooth as they worked. She used a thimble and needle with great skill.
I remember her staying up late into the night if you had an earache or stomach ache, she would always be so wide awake, talking softly and with gaiety, trying to help you feel better. Making letters of the alphabet on my back and I was to guess which one. I loved it when she used her hand to erase and get my back ready for another letter to be drawn. She was a great bedside nurse mom.
Catching lightning bugs in a jar. This especially reminds me of a visit to Aunt Georgia’s house, when she lived in Carol, Iowa. I remember thinking this was so neat that I had Aunts named Carol, Georgia, Charlotte… all places to visit. All of us girls were so busy catching lightning bugs and we started decorating our bodies with the lighted part – necklaces, bracelets, rings, we were completely adorned. Carol had a lot of lightning bugs. We also learned to make jewelry there out of beautiful telephone wire…a neighbor of Brainerd’s worked at the telephone company so they had lots of pretty wiring to keep us girls busy.
Cooling our feet off in the cold bathtub water, on a hot summer night, all sitting side by side on the edge of the tub. This served to cool us all off so that we could go to sleep. Even after our baths, sometimes it would be too hot to go to bed without having our feet soaked again, it always made the white sheets of our beds feel so cool.
Mom was the grill master at our house, and all the meat was extremely well done. Mom would take us over to the grandparents for a visit, especially on Sunday. I remember visiting Grandpa and Grandma Halligan… when we looked our best and then…we would be photographed with each other and with cousins.
I have so many fond memories of playing over at Adeline’s house, especially at holiday times. The house was always full of people talking, big people standing around a counter filled with cinnamon rolls.
The train going through, on the tracks, so near our home – I love the sound of the wheels on the tracks and the whistle. We could always find the most interesting things over by the tracks, piles of grain, corn, etc. that had fallen out of the open cars.
Running through the sprinkler on hot days. Mom would always tell us to get our swimming suits on so we could go out in the rain during the summer days, I can just see all our kids in the yard, dancing and being silly. We had the prettiest mom on the block, she was gentle and kind, and very creative and fun, especially in the kitchen making animals out of tin foil, May Baskets for the neighbors, or homemade valentines for all our friends, or decorating Christmas cookies. She had the best ideas and I loved to watch her work…so smooth and magically her hands moved.
We would climb up the door jams, straddling the opening with our bare feet and hang out at the top. This is a talent that I have passed on to all my children – who cares about the hand (and feet) prints on the walls.
Bedtime Prayers kneeling down with our eyes closed as mom listened to us say our prayers and bless everyone in Heaven and on Earth. We pretty much blessed everyone we knew, this took a very long time – with mom reminding us of additional things that needed our prayers.
She was always so pretty on Sunday morning and she stayed in her nice clothes for most of the day afterwards, she had the most gorgeous feet and ankles. I have always felt so lucky to have a mom who was such a pretty lady.
Climbing Trees and eating mulberries down at the end of the street. Laughing so hard that soda pop would come out of your nose.
Giving rides on the handlebars of the bike, and one on the seat too, while the rider stood and peddled, we had to share.
Attaching playing cards to your bike frame to rub against your spokes. Getting a summer haircut every single year – the pixie for the girls and butches for the boys. I can just hear the sound of the buzzing as she moved that trimmer over their cute little heads.
I remember her stopping at the grocery store to get a few things with us kids in the car, she would run in and tell us to all stay IN the car. So, we would roll down the windows and talk to other kids who were staying in their cars while their mothers ran into the store.
Sitting out in the kitchen on really cold mornings with the oven door open and the boiler warmly toasting our homemade cinnamon sugar bread.
Having milk-with-coffee when company stopped over. Our company was almost always relatives. My best friends were my cousins.
Mom would wax the kitchen floor, and make it very slippery – then us kids would start at the farthest place in our home and run, building up speed along the way…through the bedroom, hall, living room…and land on a rug (fluffy side down) to slide across the kitchen and fly out into the utility room, bumping down two steps on the way as we flew.
I remember once having a contest between the Brainerd’s against the Hurdel kids as to who’s mother was the most frugal, and did the strangest things…back and forth we went one upping each other with stories of our mothers. Our mother saves that last little crumble of soap - collects them into a mesh potato bag and uses it as a scrubber in the shower, my mother drinks the pickle juice, our mother adds water to the ketchup bottle and drinks the solution “just like tomato juice”, she says…my mother squeezes the tooth paste every morning after it is empty, scraping and gliding the last morsels of paste to the opening…oh yeah, our mother does that too – but after that she slices it down the side and opens it up, saving it is a sandwich baggie so she can use it a few more times, YOU WIN! Guess who?
I remember once having a contest between the Brainerd’s against the Hurdel kids as to who’s mother was the most frugal, and did the strangest things…back and forth we went one upping each other with stories of our mothers. Our mother saves that last little crumble of soap - collects them into a mesh potato bag and uses it as a scrubber in the shower, my mother drinks the pickle juice, our mother adds water to the ketchup bottle and drinks the solution “just like tomato juice”, she says…my mother squeezes the tooth paste every morning after it is empty, scraping and gliding the last morsels of paste to the opening…oh yeah, our mother does that too – but after that she slices it down the side and opens it up, saving it is a sandwich baggie so she can use it a few more times, YOU WIN! Guess who?
8 comments:
My mother died on August 25, 2007 and I miss her very much. She was 78 years young and I thought she would live to be 100. I loved hearing the stories at her funeral from my beautiful grey-haired Aunts and Uncles, and also some beautiful cousins and dear friends. I wish I had a recorder as now the memories are fleeting. I guess we need to write things down. I have often gotten onto this site, created by my sister Tricia, and I am so grateful for having it to read and see photos of my parents. Thanks so very much Tricia! It's All Good!
Glad that I, finally, am able to add to a few things.
Always in touch with the sky...I remember the evening before her funeral was the most brilliant Full Moon. My mom was the oldest daughter of Wm. Anthony and Margaret Halligan, the second child in a family with eleven children. She had seven sisters and four brothers (one of which died when a toddler) I have always thought of the constellation Pleiades, or commonly known as Seven Sisters, when thinking of my Aunts and mother. This is a wonderfully tight knit Irish Clan of people and important to note that nobody grey haired has died in this big family since my grandparents, when I was seven...we have been a very lucky family when you think of that. Look into the sky at Pleiades or the moon and see mom and dad, Grandma & Grandpa Halligan, Keith Stanek, John Newberry, and other relatives who have gone to the heavens, they are still with us. Memories help us remember and it is so important, I need things in front me - like the Moon and the Stars : )
FROM HER FUNERAL PROGRAM:
Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home
The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen ~Philippians 4:23
Margie Ann Hurdel
January 6, 1929 - August 25, 2007
Her funeral was Wednesday, August 29th, at 10:30 a.m. Reverend Tim Johnson was the clergyman and the interment was at Corpus Christi Cemetery and we set butterflies free at the end of the ceremony.
Uncle Ken sang at the funeral, as did Heather and Erin - that was beautiful. The casket-bearers: Bill, Joe & TJ, Ryan, Justin, Joe & Kyle Ruge, and Erin Halligan.
Family and Friends are invited to a luncheon at Sacred Heart Parish Center immediately following the committal services at the cemetery.
I have never given very deep thought to a philosophy of life, though I have a few ideas that I think are useful to me.
One - is that you do whatever comes your way as well as you can, and another - is that you think as little as possible about yourself and as much as possible about the other people and about things that are interesting, the third - is that you get more joy out of giving joy to others and should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give. - Eleanor Roosevelt
Kind hearts,
like garden flowers,
bring grace and beauty
to the world.
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rain fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May the Lord hold you in the
palm of His hand.
Irish Blessing
LOVE NEVER DIES
Those thankful for having shared in Margie's life include her children Cheryl Hurdel, Shelley Stanek, Tracy (Joe) Schmoker, John Hurdel, Tom (Leanne Hurdel, Tricia (Bill) Sullivan; her grandchildren, Justin Hurdel, Ryan, Heather & Amy Stanek, Anna, TJ & Lily Schmoker, Erin & Alex Hurdel, Joseph, Michael, Grace & Sean Sullivan; her brothers Bill, Don & Ken Halligan, her sisters Adeline Ruge, Esther Spoo, Lucille Cadwell, Georgia Brainerd, Carol Reis & Charlotte Newberry; their families and Margie's dear friends.
Margie was preceded in death - by her husband, Daryl 'Mert' Hurdel, her parents, her brother James Bernard, and her son-in-law Keith Stanek.
Margie Ann Halligan was born at home on January 6, 1929, the daughter of William Anthony and Margaret Ellen (Morgan) Halligan, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School in 1947, and attended Fort Dodge Junior College. Margie worked at the Telephone Company of Fort Dodge, Becker Florist, and Palmer Keepsakes. Margie met her husband, Mert at the local dances. On June 17, 1957, Margie was united in marriage to Daryl E. "Mert' Hurdel at Corpus Christi Church. They established their home and raised their family in Fort Dodge living in the same house for 50 years.
Margie was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, volunteering in Monican Mothers, Peace & Justice, as a Lector, a Cantor, and the Funeral Committee and Choir. She also organized the Eucharistic gifts and greeters for more than 20 years.
Over the years, she enjoyed sewing, embroidering, crocheting, cooking and cleaning. She also loved being outside for walks, her flowers, gardening and bird watching. Other hobbies in her life include ice-skating, dancing, and golfing.
Margie was an amazing woman who did small things with great love. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. She was intensely proud of every member of her family, and leaves a legacy for all who remember the moments she shared through example, her heart of gold, peacefulness, and faithfulness. Margie was a gentle woman of God. Her spirit of love and grace will always be with us.
We are touched by the love and support of all our families and friends. We feel truly blessed to have all of you in our lives.
The Family of Margie Hurdel
Adeline's memories, she said that she always had to check with Margie to make sure her memories are accurate, that she really misses being able to do that since Margie has died. This was just something that she could always count on and it is hard now that that is missing in her life. She now talks to Jean a lot in the same way as they were the three oldest children of 11 and they want to record some of the memories. The Halligan Cousins Website is really special...it means something. Adeline said a great memory is of she and Margie going uptown to get a christmas tree, a really big one! If you can imagine two young girls say 11 and 12 hauling a christmas tree all the way home on foot each carrying an end of the large, tall christmas tree. Adeline said that she has a card on her mantle at home that reminds her of this.
Margie was very creative and a wonderful sewer, she used to make such beautiful clothing. She once made Adeline a short cotton red robe that opened in the front, it was really pretty. She also made herself a very lovely ice-skating outfit with a reversible skirt. She was a terrific skater and practiced often. Dad used to take us skating over at Hydro Electric.
Adeline will add lots more memories, we are going to record her very soon and put them all in writing.
I remember mom… taking a break from her household tasking to come out in the front yard to race. She would line right up with all the kids, at the starting line of our yard, and race through 4 yards to the finish line down at the end of the road. She would usually win.
She taught each of us girls to sew – she had the most beautiful black sewing machine, she was so careful and meticulous, I loved to watch her hands, so graceful and smooth as they worked. She used a thimble and needle with great skill.
I remember her staying up late into the night if you had an earache or stomach ache, she would always be so wide awake, talking softly and with gaiety, trying to help you feel better. Making letters of the alphabet on my back and I was to guess which one. I loved it when she used her hand to erase and get my back ready for another letter to be drawn. She was a great bedside nurse mom.
Catching lightning bugs in a jar. This especially reminds me of a visit to Aunt Georgia’s house, when she lived in Carol, Iowa. I remember thinking this was so neat that I had Aunts named Carol, Georgia, Charlotte… all places to visit. All of us girls were so busy catching lightning bugs and we started decorating our bodies with the lighted part – necklaces, bracelets, rings, we were completely adorned. Carol had a lot of lightning bugs. We also learned to make jewelry there out of beautiful telephone wire…a neighbor of Brainerd’s worked at the telephone company so they had lots of pretty wiring to keep us girls busy.
Cooling our feet off in the cold bathtub water, on a hot summer night, all sitting side by side on the edge of the tub. This served to cool us all off so that we could go to sleep. Even after our baths, sometimes it would be too hot to go to bed without having our feet soaked again, it always made the white sheets of our beds feel so cool.
Mom was the grill master at our house, and all the meat was extremely well done. Mom would take us over to the grandparents for a visit, especially on Sunday. I remember visiting Grandpa and Grandma Halligan… when we looked our best and then…we would be photographed with each other and with cousins.
I have so many fond memories of playing over at Adeline’s house, especially at holiday times. The house was always full of people talking, big people standing around a counter filled with cinnamon rolls.
The train going through, on the tracks, so near our home – I love the sound of the wheels on the tracks and the whistle. We could always find the most interesting things over by the tracks, piles of grain, corn, etc. that had fallen out of the open cars.
Running through the sprinkler on hot days.
Mom would always tell us to get our swimming suits on so we could go out in the rain during the summer days, I can just see all our kids in the yard, dancing and being silly. We had the prettiest mom on the block, she was gentle and kind, and very creative and fun, especially in the kitchen making animals out of tin foil, May Baskets for the neighbors, or homemade valentines for all our friends, or decorating Christmas cookies. She had the best ideas and I loved to watch her work…so smooth and magically her hands moved.
We would climb up the door jams, straddling the opening with our bare feet and hang out at the top. This is a talent that I have passed on to all my children – who cares about the hand (and feet) prints on the walls.
PART TWO
Bedtime Prayers kneeling down with our eyes closed as mom listened to us say our prayers and bless everyone in Heaven and on Earth. We pretty much blessed everyone we knew, this took a very long time – with mom reminding us of additional things that needed our prayers.
She was always so pretty on Sunday morning and she stayed in her nice clothes for most of the day afterwards, she had the most gorgeous feet and ankles. I have always felt so lucky to have a mom who was such a pretty lady.
Climbing Trees and eating mulberries down at the end of the street.
Laughing so hard that soda pop would come out of your nose.
Giving rides on the handlebars of the bike, and one on the seat too, while the rider stood and peddled, we had to share.
Attaching playing cards to your bike frame to rub against your spokes.
Getting a summer haircut every single year – the pixie for the girls and butches for the boys. I can just hear the sound of the buzzing as she moved that trimmer over their cute little heads.
I remember her stopping at the grocery store to get a few things with us kids in the car, she would run in and tell us to all stay IN the car. So, we would roll down the windows and talk to other kids who were staying in their cars while their mothers ran into the store.
Sitting out in the kitchen on really cold mornings with the oven door open and the boiler warmly toasting our homemade cinnamon sugar bread.
Having milk-with-coffee when company stopped over. Our company was almost always relatives. My best friends were my cousins.
Mom would wax the kitchen floor, and make it very slippery – then us kids would start at the farthest place in our home and run, building up speed along the way…through the bedroom, hall, living room…and land on a rug (fluffy side down) to slide across the kitchen and fly out into the utility room, bumping down two steps on the way as we flew.
I remember once having a contest between the Brainerd’s against the Hurdel kids as to who’s mother was the most frugal, and did the strangest things…back and forth we went one upping each other with stories of our mothers. Our mother saves that last little crumble of soap - collects them into a mesh potato bag and uses it as a scrubber in the shower, my mother drinks the pickle juice, our mother adds water to the ketchup bottle and drinks the solution “just like tomato juice”, she says…my mother squeezes the tooth paste every morning after it is empty, scraping and gliding the last morsels of paste to the opening…oh yeah, our mother does that too – but after that she slices it down the side and opens it up, saving it is a sandwich baggie so she can use it a few more times, YOU WIN! Guess who?
I remember once having a contest between the Brainerd’s against the Hurdel kids as to who’s mother was the most frugal, and did the strangest things…back and forth we went one upping each other with stories of our mothers. Our mother saves that last little crumble of soap - collects them into a mesh potato bag and uses it as a scrubber in the shower, my mother drinks the pickle juice, our mother adds water to the ketchup bottle and drinks the solution “just like tomato juice”, she says…my mother squeezes the tooth paste every morning after it is empty, scraping and gliding the last morsels of paste to the opening…oh yeah, our mother does that too – but after that she slices it down the side and opens it up, saving it is a sandwich baggie so she can use it a few more times, YOU WIN! Guess who?
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