Irene Grady

Irene C. “Pat” Rothmeyer Grady, a longtime resident of Omaha, Nebraska, died Nov. 20, 2018, after a short illness. She was 88 years old and had lived for the past several years at Valhaven Care Center in Valley, Nebraska.

Pat, as she was known since childhood, was born Nov. 28, 1929, in Festina, the oldest of seven children of Frank and Genevieve Rothmeyer. During high school at St. Francis De Sales in Ossian, she played basketball, despite being barely 5 feet, 3 inches tall, and starred in school plays. She graduated from Mt. Mercy School of Nursing in Cedar Rapids, and worked for many years as an R.N. at Mercy Hospital.

She married John Joseph Grady on Oct. 18, 1950, and had eight children over the next 18 years, followed by 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. The couple moved from Cedar Rapids to Omaha, Nebraska, in 1964, where their last two children were born and where John worked for the Rock Island Railroad. They later ran a bar in Fontanelle for several years before returning to Omaha, Nebraska, where Pat worked part time for Olan Mills Portrait Studio.

Pat will be remembered for many things – her strength, her humor and her extraordinary prowess at Scrabble, crosswords and bingo among them. She was the kind of grandmother who never made a fuss, never minded a mess and recorded every funny thing her grandchildren ever said.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of many years, John, who died Feb. 3, 2011; parents, Frank and Genevieve Rothmeyer; sister Jean Rothmeyer; brother Jim Rothmeyer and grandsons, Jesse France and Cody France.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Sandy Grady, Kristin and Gary Gilger, Pam and Ron Slavik, Becky and Leroy Ortega, Creighton and Chris Grady, Stacy and Dan Loukota, Patty and Randy Nelson, and Kevin Grady; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sister Betty Schnuelle; brothers, Billy (Peggy) Rothmeyer, Bob (Audrey) Rothmeyer and Art (Susan) Rothmeyer; nieces and nephews.

Her grandson, Father Patrick Gilger, S.J., will preside over the memorial and funeral services. The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at West Center Chapel, 7805 W. Center Road, in Omaha, Nebraska, followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m.  Mass of Christian burial was 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26, at St. Gerald Catholic Church, 9602 "Q" St., in Omaha, Nebraska. Interment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society. Arrangements were by Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Cutler Mortuaries, West Center Chapel, 7805 W. Center Road, Omaha, Nebraska. Online condolences may be left at www.heafeyheafey.com.