F. "Mary" Urquiza

FREEMONT, CA – F. “Mary” Urquiza, 91, of Freemont, CA, formerly of Kewanee, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Christmas Day, December 25, 2017.

Cremation will be accorded and a Celebration of her Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 16 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kewanee. Marshall Jones will officiate. Memorials may be directed to Abilities Plus in Kewanee. Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee is in charge of arrangements.

She was born July 16, 1926 in Kewanee, the daughter of Edward and Dorothy (Lampson) Hand. Mary was previously married to Dean Strand and they had three children; Carol Strand-Smith (deceased), Brenda Sue “Suzy” Strand of Freemont, CA and Pennie Strand Wildermuth (deceased). She later married Frank “Pancho” Urquiza on December 17, 1961 in Geneseo and he preceded her in death on June 10, 1998. Together they had two daughters; Lisa Mary Urquiza of Kewanee and Jenny Lynn Urquiza of Pueblo, CO. She had fourteen grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and a multitude of “adopted” grandchildren who all loved their “Grandma Mary!”

Mary was a welder during WWII (yep she was Rosie the Riveter!) She also had worked at Walworth, Harper-Wyman, Abilities plus and Kewanee Corp. She especially loved working with the many wonderful clients at Abilities Plus. She was a member of Visitation Church, St. John Paul II Parish and had been President of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary for many years.

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