Aurelia Carlene Harringa, 93, of Cedar Falls, passed away on Friday, August 18, 2023, at Western Home Deery Suites, in Cedar Falls.
She was born on October 5, 1929, in Wellsburg, Iowa, the daughter of Carl and Martha (Finke) Heinrich. She attended school in Wellsburg, graduating from Wellsburg High School in 1947. After high school, she attended Pitzie's School of Beauty in Waterloo. She operated her own beauty shop for 6 years and worked at various other salons throughout her career. On October 28, 1956, Aurelia was united in marriage to Eugene Clair Harringa at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wellsburg. The couple welcomed three sons into their family. While her children were young, she stayed home to care for her family and home and after her sons grew older, she went to work for Sears in Waterloo, where she worked in telephone sales. She retired in 1986.
Aurelia was a member of St. Ansgar Lutheran Church in Waterloo where she actively served in various roles; women's bible study, women's circle, mixed choir, lunch committees and was a Sunday school teacher-church was very important to Aurelia. She was also a member of the Red Hats, and the local YMCA. When she wasn't busy with her family, work, and church, she was an avid reader, loved to knit and crochet, and loved to travel which included trips to California to visit family, Switzerland, Alaska, Hawaii, and different parts of Europe. Aurelia loved to boat, especially at Clear Lake. The greatest joy in Aurelia's life was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was loving, sweet, caring, soft-hearted, beautiful inside and out, and was friendly to everyone; those are just a few words to describe the wonderful person Aurelia truly was. She lived a long and prosperous life, and her family will miss her beyond measure, but their memories of her will bring them peace and comfort in the days ahead.
She is survived by her sons Tim (Joan) Harringa of Denver, IA, Dan Harringa of Omaha, NE, and Steve (Jami) Harringa of Olathe, KS; 6 grandchildren Justin (Letania), Andy, Kelsey, Caleb, Carli, and Jacki Harringa; 2 great-grandchildren Olivia and CJ Harringa; sister Ardy (Lew) Finch of Cedar Rapids; numerous nieces and nephews. She rejoins in Heaven her parents; husband Eugene; sister Dorene Iltis and brother Clarence "Carbo" Heinrich.
Visitation for Aurelia will be held on September 7 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Locke at Tower Park, and for one hour prior to the service at the church. The funeral service will be held on September 8th at 10:30 AM at St. Ansgar Lutheran Church in Waterloo. A livestream of the service will be available on the St. Ansgar Lutheran Church Facebook page. Burial will be held at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be directed to the church, or to Cedar Valley Hospice. Locke at Tower Park, 319-233-3146, is assisting the family.