Mary Johanna O’Brien

Mary Johanna O’Brien, 93, of Cedar Falls, died Friday, April 24, 2020 at NewAldaya Lifescapes. She was born December 7, 1926 in Ridgeway, Iowa the daughter of Leo and Marie Novak Donovan. She was a graduate of OLVA Academy in Waterloo.

Mary married Richard O’Brien on January 6, 1950 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waterloo; he preceded her in death on December 17, 2001.

She worked at Rath Packing Company, 3M Company, and Washington County, MN School District.

She was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Waterloo.

Survived by: one son, Steven (Marcia) O’Brien of Waterloo; two daughters, Helen (Doug) Archibald of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Joan (Jim) Siebers of Madison, Wisconsin; six grandchildren, Matt (Christy) O’Brien of Waterloo, Melissa O’Brien of Waterloo, Sarah Kosmoski of Hastings, Minnesota, Brian Archibald of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Ben (Bailey Smolarek) Siebers of Madison, Wisconsin, Ellen (Chuck Ansbacher) Siebers of Hudson, New York; six great-grandchildren; one sister, Leora Andorf of Cedar Falls; one brother, Pat (Mary) Donovan of Ridgeway, Iowa and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by: her parents; her husband, Richard; one son, Tom O’Brien; two sisters, Virginia McMahon, Rita Barsness and one brother, Dennis Donovan.

We are all so grateful to have had this generous, loving, kind, sassy, funny Mom, Grandma, Aunt, friend in our lives. May she live in our happy memories.