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In lieu of flowers, requesting to send all Memorials to The Sacred Heart Catholic Church Mary Phelan Memorial Fund at 407 North Main Street Chariton, Iowa 50049. Thank you from the family of Mary Phelan.
Mary Margaret (Shovlain) Phelan was born on March 30, 1929 in Weller, Iowa to her loving parents Hugh Edward Shovlain Sr. and Margaret Ursula Coady Shovlain. Raised on a farm from birth, she knew the value of an honest day’s hard work from an early age and helped with daily chores on the family homestead. She was the second child and the only daughter of her parents’ four children, and provided the calming, caring feminine energy in her home to balance out her three brothers’ playful and youthful hijinks. Mary’s parents provided her with an opportunity to learn at a boarding school in Albia, Iowa for her high school years, always coming home for the weekends to make time for her family and help out around the farm. After finishing her education, she worked in Des Moines as a secretary and loved the independence and fun that came with living with friends in the big city. There she met her husband, James Robert Phelan at a boarding house where she was living. They married January 14, 1950 in Albia and were blessed with two sons James Edward and Joseph Michael. After initially working in the oil fields in Sweetwater, Texas, they moved back to south central Iowa and ran a successful farm for over 30 years. She had a joyful marriage for 32 years before she was preceded in death by James in 1982. She prioritized her children’s educations and was always extremely proud of her sons’ accomplishments, one who became an attorney and judge, and the other a physician.
The foundation of Mary’s life was built on her love of God, her family, and her community. She was a deeply faith-filled woman and her Catholicism was a grounding force for her. Much of Mary’s time, when not working on the farm was spent volunteering at Sacred Heart Church through fundraising, baking, and other community activities. The rosary beads she carried with her often needed repairs from constant use. Countless prayers to her namesake were made throughout her life. Her gentle spirit and kind, talkative good nature made anyone she spoke with feel at ease. She loved being around people, especially those closest to her, and shared a very close bond with her mother Margaret.
Mary showered her family, and especially her grandchildren, with the same all-encompassing love that came to define her. She treasured her time spent during the holidays with her family members and ended every meal’s prayer with the phrase “It’s good to be together!” Mary knew how to have fun and enjoy the good things in life in between all of the work. She had an infamous sweet tooth with baking skills to match. Many of the cupboards and countertops of her kitchen had a cache of chocolate and other treats. Her chocolate chip cookies were so desired that some batches even made transatlantic journeys to be enjoyed. She loved playing Euchre with her extended Irish family members and then later with her children and grandchildren. Mary enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation, and often drove herself to local nature preserves to watch for deer. She also provided traveling birds refuge in her backyard with numerous feeders and birdbaths.
She was quick to smile, laugh, and joke in conversation. She would always hum when she heard Frank Sinatra or other big band music that reminded her of the dance halls of her youth. If a single birthday, holiday or celebration couldn’t be in person, it never went without a phone call or a card in mail or both.
The last 2½ years of her life were spent enjoying the Florida sunshine in Hollywood, near two of her brothers, after enduring harsh midwestern winters for the majority of her life. Some of her favorite moments spent there were simply driving around town, dining out or shopping with her family or friends and being able to watch a sunset on the beach. Friendships with her exceptional caregivers, Rose Forjan and Elaine Cato, gave her an additional personal connection and fulfillment that blessed her the remainder of her days.
On Saturday, the 18th of June, Mary spoke on the phone with each of her sons, sharing their love for one another. Bright and conversational still, she had her brother and niece, Linda, as guests in her apartment that afternoon. She went to bed that evening and passed away peacefully in her sleep the next morning, June 19th, 2022.
Mary was predeceased by her parents, Hugh and Margaret, her husband, James, her brothers Francis Benedict (Tony) and Hugh Edward Shovlain Junior (Sam). She is survived by her brother, Paul Joseph Shovlain, and 2 sons Jim (Vicki) and Joe (Julie). She has two grandchildren that were the recipients of great love, and brought her an abundance of joy, Alyssa Renee Phelan and Sean Michael Phelan.
Memorials may be directed to: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Mary Phelan Memorial Fund 407 North Main St. Chariton, IA 50049.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary M (Shovlain) Phelan, please visit our floral store.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
407 North Main Street, Chariton IA 50049