Anne Cecile Anzlyne (Rounds) O’Mara, passed away peacefully aged 76 years on Sept. 30, 2024, at her home in Moville, Iowa. Her husband was at her side, holding her hand, and the room was filled with her children and grandchildren.
A funeral service was held on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Immaculate Conception Church with Rev. Michael Erpelding officiating. Burial was at the Arlington Cemetery of Moville. The Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Moville is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences can be made at nicklasdjensenfh.com
Anne was born to Raymond Lee and Angie Cecile Anzlyne (Guthridge) Rounds on May 5, 1948, at St. Joseph Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. She grew up in Moville, where her family has been rooted for generations, and graduated from Woodbury Central High School in 1966. She was the first of her family to go to college, studying at Webster City and then the University of Northern Iowa where she met the love of her life, John O’Mara. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Anne and John were married at Immaculate Conception in Moville on June 30, 1973.
They moved from Cedar Falls to Lyons, Neb. in 1974. There they built their home and raised their five children: Jason, Katie, Liam, Daniel and Mollie. They moved to McCook Lake, S.D. in 2008 and returned to Anne’s hometown of Moville in 2021.
Anne and John lived their life as one. Together they were pillars of their communities. Anne was director of the Region 4 center for people with developmental disabilities, editor of the Lyons Mirror-Sun newspaper, volunteer for Meals on Wheels and Hearts and Hands, a poll worker on election night, and a member of the parish council and choir. She helped organize the festivities for community 4th of July celebrations and the live nativity at Christmas. Of all the work Anne did in her life, her most cherished role was that of homemaker. After many years as a stay-at-home mom, she went back to school to study theology at Mount Marty earning a master’s degree in pastoral ministry in 2006. Anne was Associate Director at the University of South Dakota’s Newman Center, served on the board of directors for Siouxland Catholic Radio, and was an adjunct professor of Theology at Briar Cliff University.
Above all, Anne loved God. Her life reflected her faith in His goodness. She was a loving wife and a wonderful mother and grandmother. She never hesitated to show love. Quick-witted and quicker with a smile, Anne had a way of making people feel welcome, and was everyone’s favorite hostess for family gatherings and holidays. She was kind and gracious, and a fierce defender of the underdog. She faced difficult situations with calm, cheerful perseverance and taught her family to forgive each other everything. The lessons taught through her words and example helped the people she loved grow closer to heaven. Anne remained active in the church, teaching catechism and leading bible studies across Siouxland until the end of her life. She was a lifelong learner, an artist, a lover of truth and music, and a teacher at heart.
Anne was a survivor, battling breast cancer three times. Initially diagnosed in March 1999, she overcame the disease again in 2016 before a third diagnosis in November of 2023. She taught us how to live well and how to face death with grace and courage.
Anne is survived by her husband of 51 years and 3 months John O’Mara of Moville; children and grandchildren, Jason (Heidi) O’Mara of Moville (Aidan, Noah, Ella, Michael, Clara), Katie (Joe) Schefers of Brookings, S.D., (Nick, Allie, Caroline, Julia, Bridget), Liam O’Mara (Zach Chapman) of Fresno, Calif.; Daniel (Claire) O’Mara of West Harrison, Ind. (Maeveen, Bonnie, Casey, Talulla); and Mollie (Michael) Brauer of Moville (Avila, Jack, Luke, Jude, Simon); her brother-in-law Roy Shackelford of La Vista, Neb.; sister Madelon Rounds (Bob Pierson) of Blakesburg, Iowa; brother Bob Rounds (Kelli Erickson) of Moville; sister Fauniel (Lindsay) Cooper of St. Charles, Ill.; and her beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Angie Rounds, father and mother-in-law Mick and Mary O’Mara, sister Rita Shackelford, brother David Rounds, and sister-in-law Georgia Rounds.
