Memorial
Mary Ellen Kokontis, age 89, longtime resident of Cedar Rapids, died Sunday, June 1, 2014 at The Woodlands at the Meth-Wick Community.
Mass of the Resurrection will be held 10:30 AM Saturday, June 7, 2014 at St. Matthew Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. David Beckman officiating. Visitation: 4-7:00 PM Friday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home with a vigil service at 4:00 PM. Entombment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mary’s name may be sent to St. Matthew Catholic Church, the Alzheimer’s Association, or Meth-Wick Community of Cedar Rapids.
Mary was born June 5, 1924 in Quincy, Illinois to Charles and Gertrude (Terstriep) Baumgartner. She married William Kokontis on June 26, 1948. In 1959, she and Bill moved from Orlando, Florida to a farm outside Hiawatha, where she pitched in with all the chores, restored an old farmhouse, and was midwife to thousands of piglets. When they moved to town, she worked for Americana Care Center for over fifteen years as an administrative assistant, where her cheerful smile and great sense of humor brightened the days of many residents and visitors.
Mary was a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church. Creating a comfortable home for her husband and their six children was her greatest joy. An outstanding cook with a special talent for pies, she was also an accomplished seamstress, and she was known for her green thumb. She took great pride in her lush philodendron, dieffenbachia, and Christmas cacti. She was also a savvy bargain hunter and never let a good deal slip by. Mary loved to play pinochle, bridge, ping-pong, and for many years she played league bowling. She was an avid reader and letter writer. When her grandchildren came along, she loved to design outfits for the girls and made matching doll clothes, and she delighted in the antics of her grandsons.
Mary is survived by six children: sons William (Cathy) of LaGrange, Illinois and their daughters Dr. Kate M. Kokontis of New Orleans, Louisiana and Megan M. Kokontis, Esquire of Chicago, Illinois; Thomas (Mary Tavegia) of LaGrange, Illinois and their daughter Ellen of Chicago, Illinois; Steve (Theresa Baldus-Kokontis) and their children Adam (Carol), Abigail (Michael) Griffith, and Peter all of Cedar Rapids; Dr. John (Dr. Elaine Chang) and their daughter Claire all of Palo Alto, California; daughters: Connie Kokontis (Greg Epping) of Cedar Rapids; and Dr. Lisa Kokontis (Dr. Chris Westra) and their daughters Libby, Hannah, and Rachel of Appleton, Wisconsin; great-grandchildren: Leonard Kokontis and Zoe Griffith; sister JoAnn Wright of Quincy, Illinois; sisters-in-law Dorothy Fewox of Jacksonville, Florida and Catherine Mishler of Orlando, Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband William in 2000; her parents; and her twin sister Rosemary.
The family is grateful for the wonderful care provided by all of the staff at the Meth-Wick Community over the years, especially Chris, Evelyn, Lisa, Wanda, Sally, Jody W., and all of the other angels who helped Mom along her journey.