Mary A. Wills

Mary Ann (Romano) Wills passed away in Des Moines on Sunday, July 19, 2020 at the age of 100 in the presence and comfort of her family. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, 2020, with the rosary prayed at 5:30 p.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 15 Indianola Road. Due to the COVID pandemic, masks (available at Church) and social distancing are required at the visitation. Private family Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, July 23rd at the church. The funeral will be "live streamed" for the public. Live Streaming: On-line at 10:45am July 23, 2020 https://venue.streamspot.com/70f5b857 A private family burial will be held at Glendale Cemetery.

Mary was born January 29, 1920 in Des Moines, Iowa, one of five children of Antonio and Argia Romano. She attended Lincoln High School and was active in sports. She loved sports, especially following the Cubs and encouraged her children and grandchildren to be active in sports as well. In the early days of WWII, she worked at Solar Aircraft in Des Moines and then at Katz Drug Store in Des Moines at the cosmetics department. She spent many years making friends with her customers while managing the boys clothing department of Park Avenue Shoe and Clothing. Also, for many years while at Park Avenue Shoe and Clothing, Skeffington’s and Carpenter Uniform, she helped put school uniforms on many generations of kids in area parochial schools.

She was devoted to her Catholic Faith and love of God and spent many, many hours volunteering in numerous ways at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church and School and was named Outstanding Alumni for St. Anthony’s School Class of 1934. Mary was a Cub Scout Den Mother, Leader of Teens of Mary, active in PTA and Altar and Rosary Society, and numerous fund raisers including the St. Anthony wine festivals.

Mary married Cecil L. Wills, whom she met while both worked at Katz Drug. They established their first home at Old Fort Des Moines, living in repurposed military barracks catering to GI’s returning from WWII. Mary and Cecil had five children: Barbara (Rocky) Gabriel of Buckeye, AZ; James (Patricia) Wills of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Sandra (Rick) Dupuy of Waukee, Iowa; Joseph (Nancy) Wills of Dallas Center, Iowa; and Maury (Mary) Wills of Adel, Iowa. Mary is survived by her 17 grandchildren, Shelley Gabriel, Maribeth Shell, Jodi Wills, Brian Wills, Aaron Dupuy, Adam Dupuy, Marcie Smith, Chuck Wills, Mark Wills, Alissa Spratt, Justin Wills, John Wills, Anna Wills, Laura Treacy, Daniel Wills, Peter Wills, and Luke Wills; 31 great grandchildren, Shane Shell, Lulu Zippo, Isabella Zippo, Braden Wills, Eli Wills, Aidan Dupuy, Nora Dupuy, Sophie Smith, Lilli Smith, Sam Smith, Charlie Smith, Franklin Wills, Harrison Wills, Millie Wills, Jakob Dupuy, Abram Dupuy, Jude Dupuy, Emily Spratt, Connor Spratt, Becker Wills, Isla Wills, Tyler Wills, Coby Wills, Landen Wills, Jack Wills, Leo Wills, Cyrus Wills, Rose Wills, James Wills, Monica Wills, and Baby Treacy on the way for whom her love was never-ending.

Mary was predeceased by her husband Cecil in 1978; parents Antonio and Argia; and her siblings including her twin brother Albert who died in infancy; Louis Romano, Denver Colorado; Rhita (Marion) Harmon, Greeley, Colorado; Joseph (Joanne) Romano, Des Moines, Iowa; and Josephine (Ed) Jones, Sioux City, Iowa and all of her brothers and sisters-in-law.

Memorials may be made in Mary’s name to the Mary Wills Scholarship for Community Service, Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church, 15 Indianola Road, Des Moines, Iowa 50315.

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