Memorial
Harriette J. (DeBerg) Burgess, 97, of 165 Crestridge Drive NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Saturday, July 5, 2014, at Emeritus at Silver Pines, 136 36th Avenue SW.
Visitation will be from 1-2:00 PM Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. Cedar Memorial’s Staff Certified Celebrant, Julie Freese, will officiate. Interment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Survivors include nieces Jackie Price of Cedar Rapids and Joan Franks of Oxford Junction; nephew Jim (Joyce) Vail of Cedar Rapids; great-niece Lisa (Scott) Conrad of Cedar Rapids; several great- and great-great nieces and nephews; and two good friends, Lois Jensen and Mary (Rex) Fritts, both of Cedar Rapids.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Minnie C. (Stumberg) and John H. DeBerg and sisters Gladys Meyer and Joyce Tucker.
She was also preceded in death by husbands Harley Larson and Clair Burgess.
Harriette was born July 28, 1916 in Grundy County, Iowa and lived many places in the United States during her early married life. She later lived west of Hiawatha until moving to Cedar Rapids in 1955.
She retired from Rockwell Collins after 30 years of employment, where she managed the store that provided parts for the assembly line.
Harriette liked to cook “all things chocolate” and sew. She was always the perfect hostess. She was the sister who helped with chores on the farm at a young age, and she also took piano lessons and played the organ at church “without using the foot pedals.”
Music was very important to her. Harriette could play anything “by ear” on the piano and really enjoyed playing, but didn’t want to “show off.” She also liked to dance to area dance bands. Later her interests were roller skating each week in Cedar Rapids and bowling in leagues at several bowling centers.
The family would like to thank the staff at Emeritus at Silver Pines in Cedar Rapids and the Hospice Team from Unity Point St. Luke’s for their excellent care. We also thank the neighbors and friends who helped her in times of need.
The family requests that memorial donations in Harriette’s name be directed to Unity Point Hospice.