Mary Ellen (Cunningham) Cloudas, 82, of Sioux City died, with her family and many friends at her bedside, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, at her residence following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Per her wishes, the body has been cremated. Private family services will be at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service.
Mary was born on Jan. 13, 1931, in Kewanee, Ill., to parents Margaret and Arlon Cunningham. Mary had five siblings, Sharon, Shirley, Paul, George and Patrick. Mary lived in several states throughout her life, but settled in Sioux City in 1978. She worked at IBP (Tyson Foods) for 12 years before retiring.
She was an avid fan of fishing and enjoyed her lukewarm Pepsis. If Mary wasn't fishing, you could always find her in front of her favorite John Wayne western movies or checking out the latest gossip on her favorite soap operas. Mary also enjoyed the company of her family and friends, especially when it came to a visit by any one of her many grandkids and great-grandkids.
Mary is survived by her sisters, Sharon Le Masters of Moline, Ill., and Shirley Cuisack of Chula Visita, Calif.; brothers, George Cunningham of Kewanee, Ill., and Patrick Cunningham and his wife Paula of Springfield, Ill.; children, Jeff Swearingen and his wife Karen of Sioux City, James Cloudas and his wife Donna of Nevada, Iowa, Arlon Cloudas of Sioux City, Vickie Snead of her husband Doug of Dearfield, Mich., Karen McGill of Geneseo, Ill., and Gary White of Kewanee; and way too many grandkids and great-grandkids to mention all by name.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and Arlon; a brother, Paul; a son, Greg; and several aunts and uncles.
In lieu of flowers or donations, the family would ask that you donate the cost of your gift to a Cancer Research Fund of your choice.