Mary Louise Ely, a long time resident of Sioux City, passed away Friday January 12, 2018 at Mercy hospital.

Funeral services will be held 11 am Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at River Hills Church, 1101 5th Avenue in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be held 5-7 pm Tuesday at the church with the family present. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City.

She was born on December 4th, 1942, in Sioux City Iowa; the third of five siblings born to William Louis Hollingshead and Ellen Marie (Church) Hollingshead. In her early childhood years she and her family lived in a box car caboose before upgrading to a two-room basement house.

Mary was married to Lyle Ely in 1963 in Sioux City Iowa, and raised three children. Mary was devoted to her family and friends, and was a strong woman of faith. She took her children to church no less than three times a week. She believed in the power of Jesus Christ's love and that someday she would be in heaven with him. She was most recently a member of River Hills Church.

In her professional life, she worked for First Assembly of God Church and also volunteered her time in the nursery and kitchen. While working at Matney’s Nursing Home in Morningside she tirelessly worked as a CNA, housekeeper, laundry worker and activities director.

Survivors include a daughter Cathy (Ely) Petzoldt and her husband, Jon of Arizona and son Bill Ely and his wife, Sharrie’ of Iowa. Grandchildren Catherine, Alec and his wife Ayla, Ryan and his wife Alyssa Petzoldt. Nick, Emily, Lilly and Izzy Ely, and a great grandson Knox Ely.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lyle Ely, her daughter Kim D (Ely) Wilden, and a brother Donnie Hollingshead.

The family would like to thank the staff at Sunrise Nursing Home for all the love and care they gave Mary.

In lieu of flowers, donate the money to a local church or take an elderly person to Jerrys Pizza, she would have wanted that.