Dolores Kew

MASON CITY ? Dolores A. Kew, age 83, long time RN, died Saturday (August 18, 2007) at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, August 25, 2007, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with the Rev. Wendy Abrahamson of St. John?s Episcopal Church officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, with Full Veteran Rites. Memorials may be directed to the Dolores Kew Memorial Fund. Dolores was born Sept. 12, 1923 in Milwaukee, WI, to Michael and Christina Justine Mecca. At age 21, she graduated from Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, IL, as an RN. She joined the US Army Nurse Corp in 1945, serving during WWII in Manila, Philippine Islands. She married 1st Lt. Kenneth E. Kew on Dec. 25, 1946, in Manila. After their Army discharge, they went to Iowa City, where she was a staff nurse at the University of Iowa Hospital. After Ken received his journalism degree, they moved to Mason City, where she worked as a staff and private duty nurse at St. Joseph?s Mercy Hospital and joined the Surgical Associates staff in 1950. Later, Dolores taught nurse aides at the Heritage Care Center, eventually becoming administrator. Afterwards, she taught NIACC Practical Nurse Program classes helping design NIACC?s Medical Assistant Program. She retired after 19 years of teaching. Dolores was involved in many community and state activities. She served on the American Cancer Society local and state boards, and was a member of the following: American Heart Assoc., NIACEA, American Nurse Assoc., Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, Mason City Foundation Executive Board, Mason City Human Rights Commission, First Congregational Church Woman?s Fellowship/Board of Trustees, and Mason City Country Club. Dolores acted as a docent for MacNider Art Museum and the Stockman House. She was an avid duplicate bridge player ? receiving her Bronze Life Masters and enjoyed golfing and dancing. Her life is celebrated by five children, Kendall (Mark) Lundberg, Clear Lake, Kevin (Chellie) Kew, Kansas City, MO, Karel (Rick) Murray, Waterloo, Kimberly Kew-Goranson (fiancé Thomas Minert), Charles City, and Korinne ?Korky? (David) Kilborn, Mason City; eight grandchildren, Marcus (Julie) Lundberg, Rochester, MN, Michael (Jeffrey) Graney, Salamanca, Spain, Lauren (Pamela) Lundberg, Buffalo Grove, IL, Jeannette Kew, Scottsdale, AZ, C. Octavio Kew, Washington, DC, Ben Murray, Blue Springs, MO, Casey Goranson, New London, CT, and Kelle Goranson, Iowa City. She is survived by two siblings, Alfred Mecca, Manitowoc, WI, and sister, Larayne Payne (Harold), Des Moines. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Henry and Lester Mecca and sister Mary Jane Kaufman.

Visitation:
3:00 PM to 3:00 PM at on August 18, 2007 (map/driving directions) 3:00 PM to 3:00 PM at on August 18, 2007 (map/driving directions)

Service:
10:00 AM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. on August 25, 2007 (map/driving directions)