Anna Elizabeth Kvidera (O'Shaughnessy)

Anna E. (O'Shaughnessy) Kvidera

Anna Elizabeth (O'Shaughnessy) Kvidera, loving mother of nine, entered into heaven on Sunday, July 20, 2008, at her home surrounded by family and friends, following a long illness. She was 85.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Daniel C. Guenther, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.christysmith.com .

Anna was born in Anthon, Iowa, on July 21, 1922, to Helen and James O'Shaughnessy. As a young girl, Anna worked on the family farm with her nine siblings. Anna was nicknamed "Tommy" at a young age. After graduating from Anthon High School in 1939, Anna attended Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa, where she earned a teaching certificate. She went on to teach grades one through eight at a country school four miles west of Anthon.

On June 30, 1945, Anna married Joe Sylvester Kvidera at Immaculate Conception Church in Sioux City, just 24 days after Joe disembarked the USS LCI 450 at Pearl Harbor. The couple made their first home in Norfolk, Va., where Joe was stationed in the U.S. Navy. After he was discharged from the Navy, Joe and Anna moved to a farm southeast of Sioux City, where they raised cattle, corn, hay and kids.

After farming for six years, Joe became a plumber for Beane Plumbing in Morningside while Anna worked and raised her family. After teaching, Anna worked as a nurse's aide at St. Monica's Home, then Sunrise Manor and later served lunches at Hayworth Junior High in Sioux City. Joseph and Anna shared 63 years of marriage and raised nine children.

Anna was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sioux City, where the couple enjoyed a 60th wedding anniversary gathering with family and friends. Visiting with her 15 grandchildren and attending Navy reunions with her husband in major cities all across the country filled Ann's retirement. The couple also enjoyed trying their luck at the local casino, attending family functions and maintaining their Morningside home. Family and friends will always remember Anna for her strong Irish heritage and generous, loving personality.

Survivors include her husband, Joe Kvidera of Sioux City; nine children, Jim and his wife, Colleen Kvidera of Sioux City, Mary Linafelter of Edwardsville, Ill., Daniel and his wife, Mary Jo Kvidera of Sioux City, Margaret Ann and her husband, Denny Beaudette of Sioux City, Rita and her husband, Bill Allen of Columbus, Neb., Jeanette Bintner of Plattsmouth, Neb., Tom and his wife, Kathy Kvidera of Sioux City, Loretto Hucker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Nancy and her husband, Dan Matcha of Yankton, S.D.; a brother, Patrick and his wife, Gladean O'Shaughnessy; three sisters, Helen and her husband, Bob Katob, Denise and her husband, Paul Frizzell and Delores and her husband, Fred Nolan; 15 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Helen (Mead) O'Shaughnessy; two brothers, Daniel and Frank O'Shaughnessy; three sisters, Mary Hayes, Alice Denny and Rita Valentino; a son-in-law, John Bintner; and a daughter-in-law, Sandy Kvidera.