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
Cathy Tyson
01/04/2010
I first met Dana when I taught at TJ in Newton and she was a substitute teacher. Dana was always very pleasant and a joy to be around. She was thrilled to have her own classroom and so excited to become a mother of her beautiful little girl.
Please know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers especially as you walk through this difficult transistion in you lives.
God Bless.
Cathy Tyson
sub teacher
Kim Friest
01/04/2010
You don't know me, but I work for Social Security and was lucky enough to talk on the phone to Dana numerous times. She was such a joy and was so excited about her family and especially her little daughter. I was broken hearted to see that she had passed away. What a loss for you and everybody who knew her.
Julie A. Kuecker
01/03/2010
I had the pleasure of teaching with Dana a few years ago at Prairie City Elementary. I remember her as being very genuine and thoughtful. She was thoughtful enough to send me a package full of odds and ends I could use in my art room. Later, our paths happened to cross one sunny summer day at the Blank Park Zoo. I hope the memories that you made on that day and many others will comfort you always.
Brian C., Steinberg
01/03/2010
I had the distinct opportunity to supervise Dana in her role as Vice President of the Bender Hall Senate (Programming Chair). I was the Assistant Hall Director at the time.
Dana was an amazing student and senate leader! She had great programming ideas and was a very hard worker. I remember how much work she put into the end of the year carnival.
My deepest condolences!
She will be deeply missed!!!
Jodi Huffaker-Walter
01/03/2010
So sorry for the loss my preys and thought are with you
Angie (Allspach) Pietig
01/03/2010
I taught with Dana at Thomas Jefferson and really enjoyed working with her. She had a wonderful personality, and great sense of humor, and such a zest for life. My heart goes out to you, her family. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Angie Pietig
Gleean and Don Coates
01/03/2010
It was an honor and a privilege to have known Dana. She was an awesome friend and role model to our daughter Amanda and her children. Her life, although all too brief, has left a lasting legacy of love, hope, fun, and frivolity for all of us who were blessed by her presence. We will all miss her tremendously and will treasure her memory forever.
Lois A. Boeyink
01/03/2010
I was reading the paper this morning and ran across the information on Dana. I am so sorry for your loss. I really enjoyed working with her at Thomas Jefferson Elementary when she was there. It was obvious she had a love for children and I remember she was so thrilled to be getting one of her own. I feel blessed by knowing a wonderful person.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Lois A. Boeyink
Thomas Jefferson Elementary PE Teacher
currently: Berg Middle School PE
Pete & Beth Fritz
01/02/2010
Our condolences to your whole family and everyone Dana touched. You are in our thoughts. Take care!
Mark & Amber Matson
01/02/2010
We will keep you all in our prayers. I cannot begin to imagine what you all are going through, but please know that Dana's spunkiness and fun-loving nature will be remembered. God is good and blesses us sometimes in ways in which we do not understand. Take care and God bless.
Becky thomas
01/02/2010
Jeff and Jody,
I am so sorry to hear about Dana, i have few memories of her but they are memories i keep with me. Playing on the YMCA basketball team and being the smallest girl on the team, she didnt score many baskets but in the last game of the season she took the ball all the way down the court and scored her only basket of the season.
My daughter Amanda going to europe with Dana with french club,amanda has so many pictures. She got out her album to look back thru the pictures when she heard about Dana. Memories she'll never forget like watching Dana getting one of her treatments on the trip, not understanding the disease.
For her to live her life as normal as she could,going to college,getting married,adopting abigail she lived her life the way she wanted to.You are both in my prayers.God Bless
Diane Knight
01/02/2010
I have no idea what to say to you except we are so very sorry. We are praying for you and the family and keep you on our hearts. It's just so hard to understand why some things happen. If there is anything we can do, please give us a call. 641-521-6418. We will continue to pray that God will give you strength and peace thru the coming days. We love you.
Marty and Lori Lepich
01/02/2010
Jason,
We are deeply saddened to hear of Dana's passing. I just asked Trent on the other day how she was doing. I just picture Dana and Abigail dancing and dancing at Trent and Brittany's wedding. You, Abigail and the rest of the family are in our thoughts and prayers. Please contact us if you need anything.
Thinking of you...
Marty and Lori Lepich
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cherryl and Dennis White
01/02/2010
As we first look in the angelic eyes of our children, hopes for their future flood our minds. We become willing to give, go without, protect, and love unconditionally, as God does with each one of us. The Good Lord shared his sweet angel with you and now she is back in his loving arms.
Dennis and I cannot concievably understand the pain and sense of loss all of you are feeling. But know everyone loves you and pray for understanding and peace to flood your hearts and souls.
Dana was certainly a gift to all who were blessed to meet her. She was a devoted, smart, caring, and beautiful daughter, wife, and cherished mother. Her devotion to her faith, her family, and to those whose lives she touched will give strength to those left behind.
Dana is in God's home preparing a lovely homecoming for all of you. Her legacy will live on in Abigail, for Dana left her with wonderful footprints to follow as she grows into a wonderful woman.
God bless each of you.
Emily Mathews
01/02/2010
I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dana. I knew her only briefly but she made a deep impact on me. My prayers are with you during this time of loss.
In Peace,
Emily Mathews
UIHC Social Worker