Mabel F. Larsen

SIOUX CITY -- Mabel F. Larsen, 95, of Sioux City passed away from natural causes Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009, at her residence at Bickford Cottage.

Services will be 9 a.m. Thursday, January 8, 2009 at St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church, with the Rev. Paul Hodge officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a Trisagion service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Mabel was born Nov. 4, 1913, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Andrew and Alexandria (Zumbrowsky) Smith. She graduated from Central High School and received a business degree from Morningside College.

She married Russell Larsen, who was a public relations representative for Swift Company and a combat photographer in Europe during World War II, on May 19, 1934, in Sioux City. He preceded her in death in 1969, in Sioux City. She worked at Montgomery Wards before working at the Sioux City Courthouse and as a clerk for the water department at the city hall.

She was an active member of Calvary Episcopal Church and even had the kitchen named Mabel's Kitchen. She was baptized in the Orthodox church. She attended St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church. She also was a member of the American Business Women, the Siouxland Horticultural Society and a duplicate bridge player at the Senior Center. She enjoyed traveling world wide. She was a generous, kind spirit who was always loyal and faithful. She always had a positive outlook on life and could brighten anyone's day.

Survivors include two nieces, Anne Marie Langlois of Sioux City and Mary Ann and her husband, Gerald Diebert of Sioux City; three nephews and their wives, Peter and Melissa Nassiff of Boston, Mass., Edwin and Gloria Nassiff of Orlando, Fla., and Paul and Rita Swanson of Sioux City; and 12 grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three sisters, Rose Buttrous, Thelma Swanson and Stella Nassiff; and a brother, Joe Smith.

Pallbearers will be Manog Virippil, Ron Carlson, Ron Counter, Paul Lammers, Jim Nelson and Phil Stevens. Honorary pallbearers will be Jeff Nassiff, Paulette Nassiff, Nichole Nassiff and Laura Langlois.

Memorials may be directed to St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church.

A special thanks to Bickford Cottage and Hospice of Siouxland for the wonderful care and love given to Mabel.