Marie Tallarico

Marie Lewis Tallarico, 94, of Keokuk, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away May 26, 2013, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. She was born July 21, 1918, in Downing, Mo., to James and Loretta Lewis. Marie graduated from Downing High School in 1937 and moved to Keokuk to attend the St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing. She became a registered nurse in 1940, marking the beginning of a long and distinguished career in health care. She married Tony Tallarico in 1942, and together they raised six daughters. During this time, Marie worked as a volunteer for St. Mary's Church and School and the American Red Cross Bloodmobile. In 1967, Marie began her 29-year career with Community Action of Southeast Iowa as Lee County Head Start nurse. She advanced to Head Start health coordinator and handicapped coordinator for the five counties of Lee, Henry, Washington, Louisa and Des Moines. She also was a member of Head Start Health Advisory Committee, representing the agency on the Lee County Mental Health Board. Eager to continuously improve Head Start services, Marie attended the University of Lund in Sweden for eight weeks in 1976, taking courses in early childhood development. She gained valuable insight into this critical practice area and later applied her learnings to those she served in Keokuk. Marie was recognized for her dedication to the community in 1992 when she received the prestigious Governor's Volunteer Award. She garnered the award for helping to secure a Community Development Block Grant and for raising thousands of dollars in matching funds from individuals and businesses to finance the construction of a new building for Community Action of Southeast Iowa. The new building, which opened its doors in 1994, was named the Marie Tallarico Community Action Center, in honor of Marie's fundraising efforts and commitment to the organization. Marie was passionate about her work at Head Start, drawing great satisfaction from helping members of the community. Marie encouraged her students and their families to set goals and reach for them, so she felt gratified when former Head Start families updated her on their personal and professional accomplishments. Even long after Marie's retirement in 1996 at age 79, she often encountered former students who thanked her for her kindness and guidance, and expressed how much they admired her. Marie recalled her time at Head Start as one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. Her ties to Keokuk were evident even outside of her Head Start role. Indeed, Marie was a participant in Area Education Agency and Council for Exceptional Children meetings. She also was a member and past president of St. Joseph's Hospital Nurses Alumni. In addition, she often volunteered her nursing services to hospital patients who were unable to pay and worked there as an emergency volunteer for many years. When she wasn't working, Marie enjoyed playing cards with her friends, a weekly tradition for more than 30 years with a group which called itself the Wild Old Women, or the WOWs, for short. Marie became particularly adept at playing bourré and poker for nickels. She and the other members of the WOW card club also traveled together, visiting Hawaii and Italy. Marie also enjoyed cooking and preparing nutritious meals from scratch that often included fresh vegetables from her garden. Her friends and family also remember fondly her delicious homemade strawberry jam and decadent ice cream treats topped with a flaming sugar cube. Never one to stay out of touch, Marie quickly mastered the latest technologies, sending instant messages and emails to her loved ones that featured multiple uses of "LOL." She had a unique sense of style, a keen sense of humor and an impressive ability to relate to people of all ages. And she is dearly missed by all who knew her. Survivors include five daughters, Judy (Mike) Carrell of Garland, Texas, Sally Tallarico of Dallas, Texas, Sue (Jim) Kennedy of Appleton, Wis., Tina (Gary) Cutter of Grapevine, Texas and Terri (John) Gardner of Scottsdale, Ariz.; son-in-law, John McCabe of Denver, Colo.; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and 17 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Cleo Lewis, Claire Bolton and Ella B. Snowbarger; two brothers, Floyd and Burl Lewis; and her daughter, Cathy McCabe. A public reception to celebrate Marie's life will be from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at the Marie Tallarico Community Action Center, 210 S. 22nd St., Keokuk. Marie's family welcomes all who knew Marie to attend. Donations in Marie's name may be made to the Head Start Program at the Marie Tallarico Community Action Center, 210 S. 22nd St., Keokuk, IA 52632; Keokuk Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 367, Keokuk; or All Saints Catholic Church, 310 S. Ninth St., Keokuk.