Mildred M. Duda
d. January 16, 2006
Mildred M. Duda, 93, a resident of Bettendorf, Iowa died on Monday, January 16, 2006 at Genesis Medical Center, East Campus in Davenport, Iowa following a brief illness.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 A.M. Saturday, January 21, 2006 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Bettendorf where she was a devoted member. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Sisters of Humility or to Our Lady of Lourdes Endowment Fund. Private family graveside services have been held. McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf is assisting the family with arrangements.
She was born in Eldon, Iowa on October 1, 1912, the daughter of Claude P. & Carrie (Leinhauser) Steele. On July 7, 1940, she was united in marriage to James F. Duda in Bettendorf. He preceded her in death on June 1, 2005.
Mildred graduated from Ottumwa Heights College and Marycrest College in Davenport. She was a teacher with an emphasis on science for more than twenty years in Wapello County, Scott County, Our Lady of Lourdes School, St. Pius School and Sacred Heart School in Rock Island, Illinois. She was a faithful volunteer substitute teacher in every Catholic elementary school in Davenport.
She loved gardening, caring for her flowers, teaching, holding “block parties” which kept the neighbors in touch and feeding the elderly in the block where she lived.
In addition to the church, she was a member of the Catholic Women’s League and the Daughters of Isabella.
Those left to honor her memory include her daughter, Mima Duda of Bettendorf; her sons & daughters-in-law, Jim & Karen Duda Jr. of Austin, Texas, Doug & Virginia Duda of Davenport, John Duda of Bettendorf and Joe & Catherine Duda of Bettendorf; her grandchildren, Jason, Kimery, Justin, Carrie & Cliff; her sisters, Marjorie Edwards of Iowa City, Iowa, Virginia Bugos of Davenport and Marilyn Jacobs of Dubuque, Iowa; and her brother, Francis K. Steele of Boulder, Colorado.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Dorothy Rumler; and by her brothers, Claude, Leo, Virgil and Donald Steele.
“MillieDu, MamaDu & Mombo, you’ve given us a million memories.”