Dana Marie Ceretti
December 30, 2009
Dana Marie Ceretti, 30, was born March 29, 1979 in Loveland, Colorado, the daughter of Jeff and Jodi King. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at the University of Iowa Hospital.
Dana will be missed by her loving husband, Jason; their beautiful daughter, Abigail; her parents, Jeff and Jodi King; her brother Josh, his wife Kim and their boys, Carson and Carter; her grandfather, Richard King; Jason’s parents, Jody and Herb Wright and Dominic Ceretti; other loving relatives and many wonderful friends.
Dana graduated from Newton High School in 1997. She continued her education at the University of Northern Iowa and obtained her Masters Degree in Elementary Education. Dana was proud to return to her roots, teaching in the Newton school district at Thomas Jefferson Elementary. She had such a strong love for children and a natural-born instinct to help nurture their minds. Above all else, Dana’s biggest accomplishment and proudest moment in her life was being Abby’s mommy. She felt blessed to be able to stay home with Abby for the past three years, sharing many treasured memories with her daughter.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at the Altoona United Methodist Church, 602 5th Avenue SW. The family will greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at the church. Cremation will follow the funeral and private burial will take place at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Iowa Chapter, 1025 Ashworth Road, Suite 512, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265, in loving memory of Dana.
Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Carolyn Wassenaar
01/05/2010
Dear Jodi and Jeff,
My heart goes out to you. How could we ever know we would meet again under these circumstances. Dana is a very special person who connected with many people very quickly--including me. I was aghast when Gelene told me she is your daughter. May our ever-loving and omnipotent father hold you in the comfort of his strength and grace. God be with you, Carolyn
Carolyn Wassenaar
01/05/2010
Our thoughts, prayers, and desire to help in any way possible are with you.
Your friends and family from Church of the Cross Preschool
Ian & Wina Demeyere ~ Canada
01/05/2010
We send our sincerest condolences to all of you. Dana must have been a beautiful person inside and out to have touched the hearts of so many people and to have made such a difference in their lives. We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers, and sending you our strength and love.
Sarah (Simpson) Hanneman
01/04/2010
My deepest sympathy and love go out to the King/Ceretti family. Words cannot describe or express how much I and my family will miss Dana. I remember moving to Newton when I was in 3rd grade and Dana took me in as a sister. We would go over to each others homes, put on plays for our parents and from then on it was an everlasting friendship. As we grew up, through all the various events that we were in together Dana always kept things light and humorous!! One of the best memories I have is being her roommate at UNI and jumping up and down on the couches dancing to The Backstreet Boys, she always knew how to make a person laugh and feel better! Another special memory I have is being her personal attendant in her wedding--that day was so special and I am so blessed to have been apart of her special day as she was a special part in mine! I was also so grateful that we were able to live in the same town and get together to hang out as much as we did.
I am so blessed to have known Dana for so many years. There is not a day that goes by that I am truly going to miss her. Her spunk, her character, her love for her family, husband and daughter..her zest for life! There is so much more I could say, but I will end on this: she was the greatest friend and I was blessed to have known her!
I miss you Dana-Love you!
Kevin & Janean Kolbet - Osage
01/04/2010
You all have our sincere sympathy in your loss of Dana. Through grandparents, Jodi and Herb, I have had the privilege of meeting lovely Abigail. Interacting with her, it is easy to see how effective a teacher and mother Dana was. May you find peace at this time through your trust and true faith in God.
Kevin & Janean Kolbet
Dee & Rick Euchner
01/04/2010
Jason
We are so sorry for your loss, we will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. Think of the happy memories you made as a family and hold them dear to your heart. Hopefully time will heal your pain.
God bless!
Ruthann Jarrett
01/04/2010
Jason and family - I was so shocked to read of Dana's death and it made me very sad. I have had you in my thoughts and prayers. Ruthann
Cindi Youngblut
01/04/2010
Our thoughts are with you in this sad, sad time.....what a beautiful, wonderful person Dana must have been....her life sounds like she made a difference in many people's lives and in their hearts. May she always be part of you...
Cindi Youngblut and the Osage Public Library Board.
Amanda Young
01/04/2010
Words cannot express how much my family will miss Dana. Sometimes I'd sit at the computer for hours trying to come up with a witty response to one of her emails or ancedotes. We take for granted what a vibrancy for life some people have. Dana was definitely one of those people.
I first met Dana in college where our friendship grew from me watching impromtu dances she choreographed and seeing her karoke on stage to post college where we scrapbooked together and shared laughs at our Book Clubs. My favorite time spent with Dana, though, was when we had play dates together with our kids. I was fortunate to spend so much time with her last year and to call her my friend. She was an inspiration to us all!
Heidi Stoltenberg
01/04/2010
It has been my pleasure to work with Dana's Mother-in-law for the past few years. I feel as if I know Dana through Jody's loving stories of her family. My heart goes out to each of you and please know you are all in our thoughts and prayers.
With sympathy,
Heidi Stoltenberg
Albert Lea, MN
Cathy Tyson
01/04/2010
I met Dana when I was teaching at TJ and Dana was just beginning her career as a teacher first as a substitute teacher and then when she got her own classroom. I remember how excited she was!!! She was a very caring teacher and very cooperative to work with daily. I last saw when she stopped in at Uncle Nancy's just a few weeks ago. It is evident from the numerous messages what a positive impact Dana made with those she came in contact with no matter where she was or what she did. I will miss seeing her around in the community. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers as you all walk through this very difficult time together.
God's Blessings to you all,
Cathy Tyson
sub teacher
Claire LeCroy
01/04/2010
My condolences to you and your family at this difficult time. I hope that as time attempts to heal this tremendous loss, that you will know how much life and humor Dana brought to those she encountered. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Stephanie Heishman
01/04/2010
My most sincere love and sympathies go out to the entire King/Ceretti family.
Ever since we met in 7th grade Dana and I began a friendship that has carried on through the years. It's tough to know I won't get funny emails, phone calls or witty notes from her anymore. I will carry her spirit in my heart forever and pledge to always let Abby know about her mother who was the most genuine, kind, amazing soul. May God's peace give you strength. With much Love, steph heishman
Jan Buchmayer
01/04/2010
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Hang on to those beautiful memories of Dana, as they will comfort you again and again, in the years to come.
Jan
Jan Buchmayer
Staff Nurse
Pulmonary Dept., Outpatient Clinic
UIHC
Rick & Gail Hartz
01/04/2010
Gail and I are truly sorry for your loss. It may seem unfair that God would take her away so soon, but you were truly blessed with the time you did have together. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Rick & Gail Hartz