A memorial mass will be offered for Mary Florence Whalen on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at 12:10 p.m. at St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings. All friends, neighbors and those who knew her are welcome.
Mary Flo, a wonderful and beloved mother, wife and sister, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on June 9, 2012, in Anamosa, Iowa.
Mary Flo spent 51 years of her life in Billings and considered it "my home while on earth … and with the help of my dear husband, I raised 10 beautiful children there."
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The below information was provided by: Sue 03/05/2013
Former longtime Billings resident Mary Florence Whalen (née Ament) passed away on June 9, 2012, in Anamosa, Iowa, at age 86, after a few months illness.
Mrs. Whalen (Flo, as she was popularly called) was born in Anamosa and attended the public high school there for two years, before finishing at the Visitation Academy in Dubuque, run by the Visitation Order of nuns, of which two aunts were members. She received a junior college degree from the same order at Georgetown Visitation College in Washington, D.C., in 1945, and a college degree from Loretto Heights College, Denver, in 1947.
She returned to Iowa in 1949 to teach English, French and dramatics in Morley, at a beginning salary she recalled of $2,700 with a $50 increase the second year. Two years later, she taught third grade in Pueblo, Colo., and in 1952 married fellow Anamosa resident, Michael J. Whalen, WWII Air Force veteran and graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. A year later they moved to Billings, where Mr. Whalen practiced law for over 40 years and together they raised 10 children, all of whom attended Catholic Central in Billings. In later years she renewed her teaching certificate at Eastern Montana College and taught as a substitute teacher.
Mrs. Whalen had many loves. She was an accomplished pianist and on occasion gave lessons. During school years in Denver, she became a skilled equestrian and was chosen college "Sport Queen" in her senior year and owned riding horses before marrying.
She loved travel and with her husband visited numerous European countries and in England visited the abandoned airstrip and barracks where he was stationed during the war. As her children married and spread out from coast to coast, she kept up a merry-go-round of visits with them and her letter writing and enjoyment of mail was legendary. She was renowned for her knitting and got much pleasure from her sewing group in Billings and the friends she made there.
In 2004 she left Billings and settled in Santa Fe. A devout Catholic and daily communicant, she appreciated the architecture and ethnicity of the many churches in the Spanish-influenced city and enjoyed taking visitors to them.
She was predeceased by her parents, Albert and Laura (Murray) Ament of Anamosa, and her brother, Rev. Robert J. Ament of Fort Atkinson, Iowa.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Whalen of Anamosa; and 10 children, Annie Laurie (James) Coogan of Santa Fe, Veronica (Dr. Christopher) Schmitt of Tacoma, Wash., Bridget (Dr. David) Lane of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Timothy Whalen of Billings, Michael (Diane) Whalen of Billings, Robert (Mary) Whalen, currently of Tel Aviv, Israel, Jerry (Michele) Whalen of Truxton, N.Y., Charlotte (John) Niederhauser of Anamosa, Shannon Sullivan of Duxbury, Mass., and Becky (John) Bostwick of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She leaves behind 26 cherished grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews. There also survive a brother, Dr. Ernest (Beryl) Ament of Grosse Pointe, Mich., and a sister, Mary Ann (John) McCluskey of Glen Ellyn, Ill.
A funeral Mass was held on June 18, 2012, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Anamosa, where Mrs. Whalen was married, and a memorial service will be held in Billings at a later date.
From: billingsgazette.com
Mary Flo, a wonderful and beloved mother, wife and sister, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on June 9, 2012, in Anamosa, Iowa.
Mary Flo spent 51 years of her life in Billings and considered it "my home while on earth … and with the help of my dear husband, I raised 10 beautiful children there."
----------------------------------------------------------
The below information was provided by: Sue 03/05/2013
Former longtime Billings resident Mary Florence Whalen (née Ament) passed away on June 9, 2012, in Anamosa, Iowa, at age 86, after a few months illness.
Mrs. Whalen (Flo, as she was popularly called) was born in Anamosa and attended the public high school there for two years, before finishing at the Visitation Academy in Dubuque, run by the Visitation Order of nuns, of which two aunts were members. She received a junior college degree from the same order at Georgetown Visitation College in Washington, D.C., in 1945, and a college degree from Loretto Heights College, Denver, in 1947.
She returned to Iowa in 1949 to teach English, French and dramatics in Morley, at a beginning salary she recalled of $2,700 with a $50 increase the second year. Two years later, she taught third grade in Pueblo, Colo., and in 1952 married fellow Anamosa resident, Michael J. Whalen, WWII Air Force veteran and graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. A year later they moved to Billings, where Mr. Whalen practiced law for over 40 years and together they raised 10 children, all of whom attended Catholic Central in Billings. In later years she renewed her teaching certificate at Eastern Montana College and taught as a substitute teacher.
Mrs. Whalen had many loves. She was an accomplished pianist and on occasion gave lessons. During school years in Denver, she became a skilled equestrian and was chosen college "Sport Queen" in her senior year and owned riding horses before marrying.
She loved travel and with her husband visited numerous European countries and in England visited the abandoned airstrip and barracks where he was stationed during the war. As her children married and spread out from coast to coast, she kept up a merry-go-round of visits with them and her letter writing and enjoyment of mail was legendary. She was renowned for her knitting and got much pleasure from her sewing group in Billings and the friends she made there.
In 2004 she left Billings and settled in Santa Fe. A devout Catholic and daily communicant, she appreciated the architecture and ethnicity of the many churches in the Spanish-influenced city and enjoyed taking visitors to them.
She was predeceased by her parents, Albert and Laura (Murray) Ament of Anamosa, and her brother, Rev. Robert J. Ament of Fort Atkinson, Iowa.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Whalen of Anamosa; and 10 children, Annie Laurie (James) Coogan of Santa Fe, Veronica (Dr. Christopher) Schmitt of Tacoma, Wash., Bridget (Dr. David) Lane of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Timothy Whalen of Billings, Michael (Diane) Whalen of Billings, Robert (Mary) Whalen, currently of Tel Aviv, Israel, Jerry (Michele) Whalen of Truxton, N.Y., Charlotte (John) Niederhauser of Anamosa, Shannon Sullivan of Duxbury, Mass., and Becky (John) Bostwick of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She leaves behind 26 cherished grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews. There also survive a brother, Dr. Ernest (Beryl) Ament of Grosse Pointe, Mich., and a sister, Mary Ann (John) McCluskey of Glen Ellyn, Ill.
A funeral Mass was held on June 18, 2012, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Anamosa, where Mrs. Whalen was married, and a memorial service will be held in Billings at a later date.
From: billingsgazette.com
A memorial mass will be offered for Mary Florence Whalen on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at 12:10 p.m. at St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings. All friends, neighbors and those who knew her are welcome.
Mary Flo, a wonderful and beloved mother, wife and sister, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on June 9, 2012, in Anamosa, Iowa.
Mary Flo spent 51 years of her life in Billings and considered it "my home while on earth … and with the help of my dear husband, I raised 10 beautiful children there."
----------------------------------------------------------
The below information was provided by: Sue 03/05/2013
Former longtime Billings resident Mary Florence Whalen (née Ament) passed away on June 9, 2012, in Anamosa, Iowa, at age 86, after a few months illness.
Mrs. Whalen (Flo, as she was popularly called) was born in Anamosa and attended the public high school there for two years, before finishing at the Visitation Academy in Dubuque, run by the Visitation Order of nuns, of which two aunts were members. She received a junior college degree from the same order at Georgetown Visitation College in Washington, D.C., in 1945, and a college degree from Loretto Heights College, Denver, in 1947.
She returned to Iowa in 1949 to teach English, French and dramatics in Morley, at a beginning salary she recalled of $2,700 with a $50 increase the second year. Two years later, she taught third grade in Pueblo, Colo., and in 1952 married fellow Anamosa resident, Michael J. Whalen, WWII Air Force veteran and graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. A year later they moved to Billings, where Mr. Whalen practiced law for over 40 years and together they raised 10 children, all of whom attended Catholic Central in Billings. In later years she renewed her teaching certificate at Eastern Montana College and taught as a substitute teacher.
Mrs. Whalen had many loves. She was an accomplished pianist and on occasion gave lessons. During school years in Denver, she became a skilled equestrian and was chosen college "Sport Queen" in her senior year and owned riding horses before marrying.
She loved travel and with her husband visited numerous European countries and in England visited the abandoned airstrip and barracks where he was stationed during the war. As her children married and spread out from coast to coast, she kept up a merry-go-round of visits with them and her letter writing and enjoyment of mail was legendary. She was renowned for her knitting and got much pleasure from her sewing group in Billings and the friends she made there.
In 2004 she left Billings and settled in Santa Fe. A devout Catholic and daily communicant, she appreciated the architecture and ethnicity of the many churches in the Spanish-influenced city and enjoyed taking visitors to them.
She was predeceased by her parents, Albert and Laura (Murray) Ament of Anamosa, and her brother, Rev. Robert J. Ament of Fort Atkinson, Iowa.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Whalen of Anamosa; and 10 children, Annie Laurie (James) Coogan of Santa Fe, Veronica (Dr. Christopher) Schmitt of Tacoma, Wash., Bridget (Dr. David) Lane of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Timothy Whalen of Billings, Michael (Diane) Whalen of Billings, Robert (Mary) Whalen, currently of Tel Aviv, Israel, Jerry (Michele) Whalen of Truxton, N.Y., Charlotte (John) Niederhauser of Anamosa, Shannon Sullivan of Duxbury, Mass., and Becky (John) Bostwick of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She leaves behind 26 cherished grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews. There also survive a brother, Dr. Ernest (Beryl) Ament of Grosse Pointe, Mich., and a sister, Mary Ann (John) McCluskey of Glen Ellyn, Ill.
A funeral Mass was held on June 18, 2012, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Anamosa, where Mrs. Whalen was married, and a memorial service will be held in Billings at a later date.
From: billingsgazette.com
Mary Flo, a wonderful and beloved mother, wife and sister, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on June 9, 2012, in Anamosa, Iowa.
Mary Flo spent 51 years of her life in Billings and considered it "my home while on earth … and with the help of my dear husband, I raised 10 beautiful children there."
----------------------------------------------------------
The below information was provided by: Sue 03/05/2013
Former longtime Billings resident Mary Florence Whalen (née Ament) passed away on June 9, 2012, in Anamosa, Iowa, at age 86, after a few months illness.
Mrs. Whalen (Flo, as she was popularly called) was born in Anamosa and attended the public high school there for two years, before finishing at the Visitation Academy in Dubuque, run by the Visitation Order of nuns, of which two aunts were members. She received a junior college degree from the same order at Georgetown Visitation College in Washington, D.C., in 1945, and a college degree from Loretto Heights College, Denver, in 1947.
She returned to Iowa in 1949 to teach English, French and dramatics in Morley, at a beginning salary she recalled of $2,700 with a $50 increase the second year. Two years later, she taught third grade in Pueblo, Colo., and in 1952 married fellow Anamosa resident, Michael J. Whalen, WWII Air Force veteran and graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. A year later they moved to Billings, where Mr. Whalen practiced law for over 40 years and together they raised 10 children, all of whom attended Catholic Central in Billings. In later years she renewed her teaching certificate at Eastern Montana College and taught as a substitute teacher.
Mrs. Whalen had many loves. She was an accomplished pianist and on occasion gave lessons. During school years in Denver, she became a skilled equestrian and was chosen college "Sport Queen" in her senior year and owned riding horses before marrying.
She loved travel and with her husband visited numerous European countries and in England visited the abandoned airstrip and barracks where he was stationed during the war. As her children married and spread out from coast to coast, she kept up a merry-go-round of visits with them and her letter writing and enjoyment of mail was legendary. She was renowned for her knitting and got much pleasure from her sewing group in Billings and the friends she made there.
In 2004 she left Billings and settled in Santa Fe. A devout Catholic and daily communicant, she appreciated the architecture and ethnicity of the many churches in the Spanish-influenced city and enjoyed taking visitors to them.
She was predeceased by her parents, Albert and Laura (Murray) Ament of Anamosa, and her brother, Rev. Robert J. Ament of Fort Atkinson, Iowa.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Whalen of Anamosa; and 10 children, Annie Laurie (James) Coogan of Santa Fe, Veronica (Dr. Christopher) Schmitt of Tacoma, Wash., Bridget (Dr. David) Lane of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Timothy Whalen of Billings, Michael (Diane) Whalen of Billings, Robert (Mary) Whalen, currently of Tel Aviv, Israel, Jerry (Michele) Whalen of Truxton, N.Y., Charlotte (John) Niederhauser of Anamosa, Shannon Sullivan of Duxbury, Mass., and Becky (John) Bostwick of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She leaves behind 26 cherished grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews. There also survive a brother, Dr. Ernest (Beryl) Ament of Grosse Pointe, Mich., and a sister, Mary Ann (John) McCluskey of Glen Ellyn, Ill.
A funeral Mass was held on June 18, 2012, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Anamosa, where Mrs. Whalen was married, and a memorial service will be held in Billings at a later date.
From: billingsgazette.com
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