Obituary for Dorothy L Foley
Dorothy Foley, 99, of Webster City died Friday, January 8, 2021 at Van Diest Medical Center. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 18, 2021 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Social distancing will be observed, and masks are required to attend. Live-streaming of the funeral will be on Foster Funeral and Cremation Centers Facebook page.
Dorothy Loretta Hogan, daughter of James J. and Mary Loretta Conners Hogan, was born on April 27, 1921 in Dougherty, Iowa. She graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Dougherty and Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City. On June 14, 1952 Dorothy was united in marriage to Russell James Foley. She worked as a nurse for many years in Mason City, Fort Dodge, and Webster City. Dorothy also volunteered as the school nurse for St. Thomas School, where she ensured there were shots in every arm and glasses perched on every nose.
She is survived by her sons, Patrick (Linda) Foley of Webster City and Tim (Nancy) Foley of Clive; grandchildren, Ryan (Abby) Foley, Julie Foley, Katie Foley and T.J. Foley; great-grandchildren, Lauren and Margo Foley; sister, Gladys Pfertzel of Rockford; sister-in-law, Evelyn Hogan of Dougherty and many extended family members.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Russell in 1998; her parents; siblings, Doris (Lee) Ewen, Lillian (Russ) Anderegg, Donald Hogan and brother-in-law, Gene Pfertzel.
Born during the presidency of Warren G. Harding, Dorothy saw planes take to the sky, men walk on the moon, and computers in every home (except for hers). When asked to name the most consequential development of her lifetime, the fierce pragmatist replied without skipping a beat, “the invention of indoor plumbing.” A devout Catholic, she spent years as a prayer partner with students at St. Thomas Aquinas School, sharing the gift of faith with younger generations. She also served as Chair of the Church’s Funeral Committee. In that role, she prepared enough potato salad to fill the nave of the church—filling the stomachs and hearts of the Webster City faithful for decades.
When she wasn’t feeding her family or her town, Dorothy was an avid crafter. Humble and unassuming, Dorothy never called attention to herself or her many talents. Despite her personal modesty, the intricate quilts she made with love will continue to keep her family and friends warm for the coming years. Between the soft hum of her sewing machine and the boisterous laughter of her family, her house was never quiet.
At the end of every visit, she would always tell her grandchildren to be patient, to say their prayers, and to be nice to their siblings. These directions represent to her family and friends how Dorothy lived her life: with unending patience, deep reverence, and a boundless compassion for everyone she met. She will be deeply missed, but what a wonderful life.
Memorials may be made in Dorothy’s memory to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
Dorothy Loretta Hogan, daughter of James J. and Mary Loretta Conners Hogan, was born on April 27, 1921 in Dougherty, Iowa. She graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Dougherty and Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City. On June 14, 1952 Dorothy was united in marriage to Russell James Foley. She worked as a nurse for many years in Mason City, Fort Dodge, and Webster City. Dorothy also volunteered as the school nurse for St. Thomas School, where she ensured there were shots in every arm and glasses perched on every nose.
She is survived by her sons, Patrick (Linda) Foley of Webster City and Tim (Nancy) Foley of Clive; grandchildren, Ryan (Abby) Foley, Julie Foley, Katie Foley and T.J. Foley; great-grandchildren, Lauren and Margo Foley; sister, Gladys Pfertzel of Rockford; sister-in-law, Evelyn Hogan of Dougherty and many extended family members.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Russell in 1998; her parents; siblings, Doris (Lee) Ewen, Lillian (Russ) Anderegg, Donald Hogan and brother-in-law, Gene Pfertzel.
Born during the presidency of Warren G. Harding, Dorothy saw planes take to the sky, men walk on the moon, and computers in every home (except for hers). When asked to name the most consequential development of her lifetime, the fierce pragmatist replied without skipping a beat, “the invention of indoor plumbing.” A devout Catholic, she spent years as a prayer partner with students at St. Thomas Aquinas School, sharing the gift of faith with younger generations. She also served as Chair of the Church’s Funeral Committee. In that role, she prepared enough potato salad to fill the nave of the church—filling the stomachs and hearts of the Webster City faithful for decades.
When she wasn’t feeding her family or her town, Dorothy was an avid crafter. Humble and unassuming, Dorothy never called attention to herself or her many talents. Despite her personal modesty, the intricate quilts she made with love will continue to keep her family and friends warm for the coming years. Between the soft hum of her sewing machine and the boisterous laughter of her family, her house was never quiet.
At the end of every visit, she would always tell her grandchildren to be patient, to say their prayers, and to be nice to their siblings. These directions represent to her family and friends how Dorothy lived her life: with unending patience, deep reverence, and a boundless compassion for everyone she met. She will be deeply missed, but what a wonderful life.
Memorials may be made in Dorothy’s memory to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.