Phyllis A. O'Donnell

Phyllis A. O'Donnell, 88, of Cedar Rapids passed away on Friday, March 8, 2013, at Mechanicsville Nursing & Rehab Center. Funeral Services: 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2013, at Queen of All Saints Chapel at All Saints Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Rev. John R. Flaherty. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. on Friday at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Survivors include her two daughters, Sue (Roger) Lainson of Tucson, Arizona and Mary (Rod) Wise of Mt Vernon, Iowa; eight grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and her sister, Mary Miller of Iowa City. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe O'Donnell, her parents and brother, Garth Thomas. Phyllis was born in North English on May 22, 1924, to Elva & John Thomas. After graduating from high school in North English, she taught for one year in a one-room country school. She then moved to Cedar Rapids, attended Business College and worked at a local downtown restaurant where she met Joe O'Donnell whom she latter married on May 28, 1951. After graduating from business school, Phyllis worked at the Cedar Rapids abstract office and then later at the Gazette as a proofreader until her retirement in 1978.