Cecelia McNamara

Cecelia McNamara, age 90, of Fort Myers, FL and formerly of Olivia, died Friday, April 9, 2021 at Calusa Harbour in Fort Myers, FL.  Mass of Christian Burial is Friday, April 16, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia with Rev. George Schmit as celebrant.  Burial is in St. Aloysius Cemetery.  Visitation is for one hour prior to the service at the church.  Memorials are preferred to Olivia Public Library or Olivia Lions Club.  Arrangements by Dirks-Blem Funeral Service, Olivia, MN.

A live stream of the service will be available by clicking on the following link. https://my.gather.app/remember/cecelia-mcnamera

Cecelia Elizabeth McNamara was born June 26, 1930 at Blomkest, MN to Albert and Lizzy (Kostka) Stuhr.  Ceil attended school in Blomkest until eighth grade and graduated from Willmar High School in 1948.  She graduated from Rice Memorial Hospital in 1949 in the first nursing program.  Ceil married James McNamara on October 6, 1951 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia.  She first worked as a nurse delivering babies and then was able to volunteer in later years for the Bloodmobile and Hospice.  Ceil then helped on the farm as she worked side by side with Jim on Mac’s turkey farms raising thousands of turkeys.  In later years she was the bookkeeper for Jim’s life insurance company.

Ceil stressed the importance of giving back to your community through service. She was a member of the Lions and Olivia Santa Program for 26 years. She was involved in the Olivia Girl Scout Program as chairperson. Starting in 1994, Jim and Ceil began wintering in Florida, but also traveled all over the world together. She was a member of the St. Aloysius Catholic Church where she was part of the altar and rosary societies. For many years she enjoyed ballroom dancing and playing in numerous card clubs. Attending plays throughout the later years gave her much joy.

Ceil McNamara is survived by her husband Jim McNamara of Ft. Myers, FL; her four children: Kathleen (and Robert) Dant of Naples, FL, Sheila (and Peter) Kienzle of Olivia, Steven (and Lynn) McNamara of Oronoco, and Thomas McNamara (and special friend Laurie) of Olivia; her six grandchildren: Kevin “Mac” Ayers, Sarah (and Mitchell) Mackedanz, Brian (and Lydia) Dant, Jacquelynn (and Paul) Hochsprung, Ashley (and Dan) Bocchi and Tyler (and Trisha) McNamara and her ten great-grandchildren.  Ceil was preceded in death by her parents; her son Paul, a son in infancy and her siblings: Harvey (and Carol) Stuhr and Eva Decker.

Blessed Be Her Memory