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MARY EDITH O’BRIEN

MARY EDITH O’BRIEN

Mary Edith O’Brien, 90, of Kahoka passed away peacefully Thursday, January 28, 2021 at the Clark County Nursing Home in Kahoka.

She was born March 8, 1930 on a farm east of Antioch, MO the only daughter of Edward and Mae Schmid Korschgen.

Mary attended Stone School, St. Patrick School and graduated from Kahoka High School with the class of 1947.  

She then attended Gem City Business School following high school.  

She worked for Gutting Funeral Home and then the Kahoka Cheese Plant for a short period of time as a bookkeeper/secretary.  She then met Richard O’Brien.  

The courtship lasted three months.  When Richard proposed he said, “I have a house to live in.” 

On November 6, 1948 she was united in marriage to Richard Eddie O’Brien at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Kahoka.

They lived in Luray for three months, then purchased a farm Northwest of Luray where they spent the remainder of their married lives working side by side farming and raising four children.

Mary was an excellent cook, gardener and seamstress.  

She believed that a good education was very important.  

Mary loved to play the piano and did so when Richard was outside. 

She was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church and the Ladies Altar Society.  

She also belonged to the Oats Bus group for a few years.  

After suffering from a severe stroke in 2010, Mary lived out her remaining days at the Clark County Nursing Home where she enjoyed playing bingo and attending any musical events.

She is survived by two daughters, Jean Oberman (Terry) of Kahoka, MO and Nancy Holt (Mark) of Arbela; a son, Dennis O’Brien (Bonnie) of Luray, Mo.; five grandchildren; Denise O’Brien-Peterson (Ron) of Naperville, IL, Thomas Oberman (Kristi) of Donnellson, IA, Andrea Brandon (Michael) of Arbela, MO, Chris Holt (Courtney) of Pulaski, IA and Jennifer Hudson (Lucus) of Rutledge, thirteen great grandchildren with one on the way in June, one step grandchild, sisters in law, Anna Mae Korschgen, Dorothy Toops, and Maureen Biggs and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Besides her husband she was also preceded in death by her parents, a son, James Edward O’Brien, two grandsons, Anthony O’Brien and Brian Oberman, three brothers, Francis Korschgen, Leroy Korschgen and Robert Korschgen, sisters in law, Bernice Korschgen and Esther Kerr and brothers in law, Bill Toops, Joe Kerr and Tipton Biggs.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1:00 p.m. Monday, February 1, 2021 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Kahoka with Father Rob Fields officiating. 

Burial will be in the Kahoka Cemetery.

A visitation will be held from 12:00 pm until the time of service at the church. 

Social distancing requirements will be in place and attendees may be limited according to those requirements.  

Masks are required.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Michael’s Ladies Altar Society or the donor’s choice.  

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.vigenmemorialhome.com.