Pauline McNeeley

Pauline McNeeley, 82, passed away Monday morning, November 10 surrounded by her family at Panora Nursing Center in Panora, IA, ending a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, November 13, 2008 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, with burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Pauline was born April 22, 1926 in Hull, Yorkshire England. After a childhood marked by the start of World War II and the subsequent Blitz and evacuation of children in England, she completed High School and achieved her greatest wish of joining the British Army in 1944. She served as a teletype operator, stationed in London. On a fateful day, in Hyde Park, London, she met the love of her life, an American soldier, Paul James McNeeley. It was love at first sight and three short months later, they were married. After another year of Paul’s Army service in Scotland, she returned with her husband to his home in Des Moines, IA, where they remained the rest of their lives.
After her family was grown, Pauline worked for the Internal Revenue Service and then began a career with the U.S. Postal Service until her retirement in 1989. Pauline loved traveling and spent many months back home in England with her sister Grace until Grace’s passing. Pauline also enjoyed flower gardening and had a “miracle thumb” able to make any flower grow anywhere!
Pauline was preceded in death by her loving husband, Paul “Jimmy”. She is survived by her brother, Norman Elliott of Australia; her daughter, Brenda (Jim) Barnett; and her son, James (Vickie) McNeeley both of Des Moines. She also leaves behind four loving grandchildren, Jason (Mari) Wolf, Heather Wolf, Jeff ( Mary Jean “Nikki”) McNeeley and Jennifer McNeeley; and four great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her best friend, sister-in-law, Pat McNeeley and countless other relatives and friends.
A special thanks is given to her loving caregivers at Panora Nursing Center who will miss Pauline’s charm and numerous British tea parties.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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