Mary Dieffenbach

Mary A. Wholey Dieffenbach, 74, of 240 Newport, - Mary A. Wholey Dieffenbach, 74, of 240 Maple Avenue, Newport, formerly of Kansas City, MO, died Saturday, August 21, 2004 at home, surrounded by loved ones, after a courageous battle with lung cancer.She was the wife of John H. Dieffenbach. Born in Kansas City, MO, on March 13, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Andrew J. Wholey and Wilhemina Bender Fierst Wholey. Mrs. Dieffenbach had worked as a housekeeper at the John Clarke Nursing and Retirement Center in Middletown, for 10 years, retiring in 1995. She was a Communicant of St. Lucys Church in Middletown. She had been a Campfire Girl Leader. She was also an avid bingo player. Mrs. Dieffenbach was a 1948 Graduate of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Kansas City, MO. Besides her husband she is survived by two sons Andrew C. Dieffenbach of Cumberland, RI, and Matthew J. Dieffenbach of Fort Walton Beach, FL, two daughters Linda K. Cruz of Marion, MA, and Patricia L. McKinney of Fort Monmouth, NJ, three brothers Andrew Wholey of Kansas City, MO, James Wholey of Kansas City, MO, and Richard Wholey of Kansas City, MO, six sisters Martha Swartz of Lees Summit, MO, Joann Palermo of Kansas City, KS, Sharon Niehaus of Kansas City, MO, Barbara Frame of Overland Park, KS, Veronica Coffey of Kansas City, MO, and Wilma Fierst of Kansas City, MO, and eleven grandchildren. She was also the sister of the late Edward Fierst.Her funeral will be held Wednesday, August 25, 2004, at 8:00 AM from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00 AM in St. Lucys Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown. Burial will be private.Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 61 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10006.