Mary Beth Callahan

Mary Beth Callahan, 73, of Dubuque, and formerly of Davenport, passed away Sunday, November 19, 2023, at Unity Point Finley Hospital, Dubuque, Iowa.

Funeral services and Mass for Christian Burial for Mary Beth will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 27, 2023, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Davenport, Iowa.  The rite of cremation will follow with the burial at a later date at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until time of services Monday at the church. 

Mary Beth was born on November 20, 1949, in Davenport to Raymond and Catherine (Heaney) Callahan.

After graduating from Assumption High School in 1968, Mary Beth spent her career in the eye care industry, most of those years as an office administrator with Hunter Eye Center.  She was a well-read, intelligent person who could talk to anyone about anything and was never too busy to engage others in delightful conversations.  She had that special gift of making people feel like they were the most important persons in the room.   

Mary Beth enjoyed spending time with her family, which was the center of her life.  The holidays were an especially joyful time for her.  She hosted Thanksgiving celebrations for many years, providing a warm and loving environment for the entire family to gather and be grateful.  Christmas was filled with wonderful memories of Aunt Mary Beth gifting the perfect toy and game for all her nieces and nephews.  She had a huge heart and was at the center of all our family gatherings.

Following retirement, Mary Beth moved to Dubuque to join her sister, Patricia Hall, and niece, Alicia (Hall) Fazio and family.  She cherished her time in Dubuque, picking up her great nieces from school, attending school functions, filling the weekends with movie sleepovers, and eating meals with family.

Mary Beth was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, and aunt who will be greatly missed.  Those left to honor her memory include her brother, Gerard (Cindy) Callahan; her sister, Patricia Hall; nieces Alicia (Jon) Fazio, Kimberly (Kevin) O’Brien, and Janelle (Justin) Falk; nephew Paul (Nicole) Callahan; and her beloved great-nieces and great-nephews: Drennan and Reagan Fazio, Ian and Kathryn Callahan, Hannah and Ethan O’Brien and Tyler Falk.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wahlert High School Impulse Show Choir.

Mary Beth’s family would like to extend a special thank-you to the Dubuque Fire and EMT, the Dubuque Police Department, and Finley Emergency Room Staff for their prompt assistance and caring moral support.

Thank you, Aunt Mary, for being “That Person” to all of us! We loved you deeply and will cherish so many wonderful memories.  Until we meet again, we honor you this Thanksgiving . . . Queue up the movies! We miss you already!

Online remembrances may be expressed at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.