CLUTIER-Bessie Margaret Novotny, age 95, of Clutier, died with her loving family at her side on Friday, July 2, 2010 at Sunrise Hill Care Center in Traer under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 10:30 AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clutier with Father Jerry Blake as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in rural Clutier. Visitation will be held on Tuesday July 6 from 4 to 7 PM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clutier where there will be rosary at 4:30 PM and a vigil service at 5 PM.
Bessie was born on September 15, 1914 in Clutier, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Bessie (Dvorak) Mareda. She graduated from Clutier High School in 1932. She was united in marriage to Vince B. Novotny on April 10, 1934 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clutier. Bessie was a homemaker and farm wife. After Vince passed away, she began working for Bob's Supper Club in Clutier and also sorted corn for Funks. She later worked at the Legcdarck Café in Clutier and finally at the Sunrise Hill Care Center in Traer. Bessie retired in 1984. She then kept busy baking cakes for all occasions. Her chocolate chip cookies were everybody's favorite. In her free time, she enjoyed crocheting. One of her proudest moments was presenting a crocheted Lord's Prayer to Anita Bryant. She also crocheted baptismal blankets for all of her great-grandchildren. Her greatest joy came from the time she spent with her family.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband Vince B. Novotny on August 15, 1964; three brothers Jerry, Frank, and George Mareda; and two sisters, Rose Smith and Dorothy Hess.
Survivors include her daughter, Carol (Manson) Vokoun of Clutier; four grandchildren, Bob (Julie) Vokoun, Renee (Patrick) Cooley, Rick (Christene) Vokoun, and RaeLynn (Kurt) Ketter; seven great-grandchildren, Hannah and Rachael Vokoun, Trey and Lane Vokoun, and Lydia, Paden, and Olivia Ketter; a sister-in-law, Wilma Mareda of Wichita, KS; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial fund has been established.