Joannel M. McDermott August 23, 1932 – February 18, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers View/Sign Guest Book| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Joannel M. McDermott, 86, of Epworth, Iowa passed away Monday, February 18, 2019 at her home in Epworth, Iowa. Friends and relatives of Joannel may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday, February 21, 2019 at the Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, Iowa, where a prayer service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friends may also call after 9 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Services for Joannel will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 22, 2019 at St. John Catholic Church in Placid, Iowa with Rev.
Thomas McDermott presiding. Burial will be held in St. John Cemetery in Placid, Iowa. She was born August 23, 1932 in Dubuque, Iowa, daughter of Earl and Grace (Callahan) O’Brien.
She graduated from St. Columbkille Catholic School in Dubuque, Iowa. She worked at Montgomery Ward until her marriage to Irwin McDermott on July 25, 1953 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fillmore, Iowa. Joannel and Irwin worked and raised their family on their farm in Placid, Iowa, until moving to Epworth, Iowa in 1997.
Joannel was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society and a long time sacristan at St. John, Placid. She also served in the Befriender Ministry and instructed children in the St. John RCIA program. Joannel was a dedicated wife, mother and homemaker.
She was devoted to her family, her Catholic faith and her Lord. She is survived by her husband of over 65 years, Irwin McDermott; seven children, Mary Ellen (Merlin) Dietzel of Dubuque, IA, Molly (Tom) Brehm of Epworth, IA, Meg (Mike) Muir of Dubuque, IA, Rev. Tom McDermott of Dubuque, IA, Steve McDermott of Epworth, IA, Karen (Doug) Koopmann of Peosta, IA and Sheila (Frank) Ward of Dubuque, IA; 33 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; brothers, Mike (Joyce) O’Brien, Joe O’Brien and Eugene (Delores) O’Brien all of Cascade, IA; her sisters, Kay (Rex) Gogerty of Hubbard, IA, Lois Schlegel of Fairfield, CT, Deb (Bob) Green of Cascade, IA; and sisters-in-law, Rita McDermott of Epworth, IA, Mary Ann O’Brien of Waunakee, WI, Maurna O’Brien of Cascade, IA, Ann O’Brien of Dubuque, IA and Nikki Manternach of Cascade, IA.
She is preceded in death by her parents; one son , Phil McDermott in 1978, father and mother-in-law, Tommie and Katie McDermott; five brothers, Earl, Ralph, George, Pat and Steve O’Brien; sisters-in-law, Elaine and Monie O’Brien, Marie, Honora and Sr. Madeleve McDermott,O.S.F and brothers-in-law, Rich Schlegel, John, Pat, Francis, Thomas, Leo, and Rev. Philip, McDermott. A special thanks to the caregivers at Hospice of Dubuque and No Place Like Home.
In lieu of flowers, etc. please direct memorials to Seton Catholic School or St. John Catholic Church in Placid, Iowa Online condolence may be sent to the family at www.
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