Mary Lucille Novak February 16, 1928 – December 1, 2011
Mary Lucille Novak, daughter of Orville and Nina (Evans) Swett, was born February 16, 1928 at Delphos, Iowa. Mary graduated from Delphos high school in 1946. On April 21, 1947, Mary was united in marriage to Cyril Laverne (Bus) Novak. With the exception of one year, they lived on the same farm south of Diagonal for 47 years.
Mary was a loving wife who was devoted to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mary loved to garden. She did many hand-works, such as crocheting doilies and quilting. Mary loved to be outdoors and especially enjoyed feeding and watching birds. Mary worked as a nurse’s aid at Clearview Home for 23 years. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Maloy and Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Mount Ayr. Mary moved into Mount Ayr around 2006. She had recently become a resident of the Mount Ayr Health Care Center.
On December 1, 2011, Mary passed away at the Mount Ayr Health Care Center. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Laverne Novak; son, Joe Novak; two brothers, Wilford and Loren Swett and sister-in-law Alice Swett, and parents-in-law, Cyril and Maude Novak.
Survivors include her children, Sherri Sheil (Steve Brown) of Clarinda, Iowa, Tim (Connie) Novak of Maryville, Missouri, Tom Novak of Diagonal, Iowa and Robert Novak of Diagonal, Iowa; grandchildren, Brian Sheil, Erik Sheil, Patrick Sheil, Chris Novak, Tara Lynch, Amy Finney, Jeremy Novak and Tracy Harper along with their special spouses and families including 16 great-grandchildren; brother, Carl Swett and wife Luella of Savannah, Missouri; two brothers-in-law, Robert (Barbara) Novak and their daughter Terri Bell of Sterling, Virginia and George (LaRetta) Novak of Creston, Iowa, along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Mary’s memorials will go to Kids Against Hunger and HCI Care Services in Mount Ayr, Iowa. Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr was in charge of the arrangements.
Your Mother is
Always With You
Your mother is always with you’
She’s the whisper of the leaves
as you walk down the street.
She’s the smell of bleach in
your freshly laundered socks.
She’s the cool hand on your
brow when you’re not well.
Your mother lives inside
your laughter. She’s crystallized
in every tear drop’
She’s the place you came from,
your first home’She’s the map you
follow with every step that you take.
She’s your first love and your first heartbreak’and nothing on earth can separate you.
Not time, Not space’
Not even death’
will ever separate you
from your mother’
You carry her inside of you’
— Author Unknown
Services were held at the Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Mount Ayr on Monday, December 5, 2011, with Fr. Glen Wilwerding officiating. Musician was Peggy Worthington.
Casket bearers included Steve Brown, Jay Watson, John Schafer, Ron Schafer, Ken Caraway and Robert Hinz.
Honorary pallbearers were Patrick Sheil, Erik Sheil, Brian Sheil, Chris Novak, Jeremy Novak, Jason Lynch and Jeff Finney.
Burial was in the Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery in Maloy.
