Marie C. Strozdas

SIOUX CITY | Marie Cecelia Strozdas, 92, of Sioux City, IA died Sunday, Apr. 6, 2014 at Sunrise Retirement Community. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Apr. 10, 2014 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Armand Bertrand officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Wednesday with the family present 5-8 p.m., a rosary recited at 6:30 p.m. and a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. Condolences may be sent at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Marie was born March 16, 1922 in Sioux City to Michael and Mary (Heral) Meckenis. She attended St. Francis Catholic Elementary, East Junior and East High School. In 1941 she married Elmer Smith. She later married Peter "Pete" Strozdas on Aug. 27, 1949 in Sioux City. He died June 22, 1989. She assisted her husband in the family business, Precision Dental Lab. Later she worked at Benson Quinn Grain Exchange for 10 years. Marie enjoyed family, friends and neighbors, providing a welcoming space for everyone at holidays, and a gathering spot on warm summer evenings around the picnic table. Her homemade bread, pies and other baked goods accompanied a pot of coffee that was always on. Marie loved the outdoors: gardening, boating and walking. She participated in activities at the Senior Center. Marie was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. In earlier years, she was a longtime member of St. Casimir Catholic Church and their Rosary Society. She was a devout Catholic with a deep faith. She had a moral fiber that is achieved by few and that she passed on to her children. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. We will be forever in her debt. Survivors include 7 children, Dennis (Jackie) Smith of Sioux City, Sandy (Dean) Shroll of Sergeant Bluff, IA, Cheryl (Rodney) Limoges of Sioux Falls, SD, Linda Strozdas of Chicago, IL, Renee (David) Wright of Dubuque, IA, Constance Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD, and Mary Ann (Lee) Hix of Chandler, AZ; 24 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a daughter, Mary Smith, 2 sons, Robert Strozdas, in infancy, and Rodney Strozdas, 2 brothers, Ted and John Meckenis and a granddaughter, Melissa Strozdas. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and honorary pallbearers will be her granddaughters. Memorials may be made in her name to Trinity Heights or a charity of your choice.