March 28, 2024

Mary Wadzinski

Mary Wadzinski, 56, of Newton, Iowa, passed away at her home Saturday, April 12, 2014, after a long battle with kidney cancer.

A funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. A rosary service will begin at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at the church with a time of visitation with the family continuing from 5:30 to 8 p.m. A public vigil service will begin at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be designated in Mary’s name in the forms of mass offerings or to the Sacred Heart Choir or the Newton Community Theatre and may be left at the church or at Pence-Reese Funeral Home.

Mary was born Oct. 26, 1957, to Joseph D. and Roseann (Divis) Cada in Schuyler, Nebraska.  She attended Schuyler area schools and graduated from Schuyler High School’s class of 1976.  Mary attended Mt. Marty College in Yankton, SD. and Nebraska Methodist School of Nursing in Omaha graduating as RN in 1980.

On July 26, 1980, Mary married Robert Wadzinski at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Schuyler.  They lived in Dodge, Neb; Pinconning, Mich; Schuyler, NE; Clovis, N.M., Elkhorn, Neb.; and Newton, Iowa.  Mary started her nursing career as a “candy striper” and worked as a registered nurse at the hospital in Schuyler.  Mary last worked at Park Centre in Newton for 7-1/2 years as Assisted Living Nurse.  She loved caring for the elderly and was very fond of her residents.

Mary was blessed with musical talent and singing was her passion.  She had taken six years of voice lessons including opera at Wayne State College, Wayne, NE.  Mary’s voice contributed to many church and community choirs wherever she lived.  She was a soloist singing for weddings and funerals.  She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and choir.   Mary was also in musical productions at Newton Community Theatre. Her favorite production was “Hot Flashes.” Mary felt the church members, choir, and theater cast members were like family.

Mary is survived by husband Robert, four children: Mary Kathryn “Katie,” Kristine, Ross, and Reid of Newton.  Three grandchildren, Asher, Annah, and Allison.  Parents Joe and Roseann Cada of Schuyler, Neb. Her sister Carolyn (John) Peers of Omaha, Neb. Several brothers and sisters in-law, nieces and nephews.  Mary was preceded in death by her grandparents and an uncle.