Funeral services and a Mass of Christian Burial for Elaine A. Epping, 78, a resident of Davenport, will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 14, 2010 at Holy Family Catholic Church, Davenport.
Visitation will be Sunday, June 13 from 2-6 p.m. at the Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, where a prayer service will be offered at 6 p.m. Burial will be in National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal. Elaine passed away Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at Genesis Medical Center, West Campus, Davenport.
Elaine Ann Hamann was born June 16, 1931, a daughter of Ralph and Sophie (Paustian) Hamann, in Davenport. She was united in marriage to James J. Epping on Nov. 28, 1953 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Davenport. He preceded her in death on Sept. 6, 1994.
Elaine was an active member of Holy Family church for over 50 years. Her past offices included serving on the Holy Family Parish Council, Altar and Rosary Society and the Home and School Association. For 27 years she was instrumental in sustaining Holy Family’s Grade School Hot Lunch Program, serving countless meals to students, greeting each one with a welcoming warm smile. Her vibrant personality and sense of humor endeared more than one generation of students to feel like they were receiving a home cooked meal with a touch of motherly love. She was also a member of the Daughters of Isabella, Catholic Women’s League and the HepCat Club. As a lifetime member of the Genesis Auxiliary, Elaine volunteered in the gift shop at Genesis West.
Her favorite hobbies included spending time with her grandchildren, playing cards with her “sisters”, reading and playing the slot machines. She was a sports enthusiast, from the time she was a cheerleader captain at Davenport High School through rooting for the Green Bay Packers, as well as her annual optimism of “this is the Cubs’ year.”
Memorials may be made to the Good Samaritan Society.
Survivors include her children and their spouses, her two daughters, Kathleen, Milwaukee, WI, and Mary, Davenport; her five sons, Gregory Epping and Connie Kokontis, Cedar Rapids, IA, Tim Epping and Kaye Murray, Davenport, Jeffery and Donna Epping, Carmel, IN, Dennis and Dawn Epping, Richardson, TX, and Anthony Epping, Ankeny, IA; her seven beloved grandchildren, Kristin, Hilary, A.J., Renee, Stephen, Kenny, and Erin.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, brother Ralph and sister Lois. May they rest in peace.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Motto, the staff at Good Samaritan and the nurses and staff on the fifth floor at Genesis West for their care and compassion shown our mother during her illnesses.
Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed by visiting Elaine’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com
