Ninth Generation

19326. Diana Elisabeth Coffey⁸⁴³³ was born on 22 March 1918 in Wellman, Washington Co., IA.⁴⁶⁵⁹⁵ She lived with her mother in Wellman, Washington Co., IA on 13 April 1940. Diana died in Washington, Washington Co., IA on 20 June 2011 and was buried at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Washington Co., IA on 24 June 2011 .^46596,46597

Obituary, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA, Thu., Jun. 23, 2011, Edition F, Page 10A

Diana Elisabeth Coffey Halda, age 93, of Washington, Iowa died Monday, June 20, 2011 at the Halcyon House in Washington following a an enduring illness.

Mass of the Resurrection will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 24, 2011 at St. James Catholic Church in Washington with Father Troy Richmond officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Friday in Tobin Hall at St. James Catholic Church, prior to the mass. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa. Memorials have been established for "Diana's Place" at Halcyon House. 

Diana Elisabeth Halda was born March 22, 1918 in Wellman, Iowa the daughter of Elmer Ivan and Lola (Oldaker) Coffey. She attended school in Wellman until her senior year when she moved with her family to Iowa City and transferred to Iowa City High School where she graduated in 1935. She worked at the Wellman Advance the next two years before entering Coe College in 1937. She graduated from Coe College in 1941. Diana taught vocal music and English in Ainsworth Consolidated Schools for the next two years.

On December 23, 1942, Diana was united in marriage to Ensign Francis Halda, USNR, of Cedar Rapids at Immaculate Conception Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. When she was in her forties, she attended Richmond Professional Institute (now Commonwealth University) in Richmond, Virginia and Rosary College (now Dominican University) in River Forest, Illinois where she received her M.A. in Library Science in 1968. She was named to Beta Phi Mu, international honorary library science fraternity. Diana was a librarian at Highland Park Elementary School in Richmond, Virginia, librarian at Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Illinios, head librarian at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Illinois and was supervisor of Library Technical Services for High School District 214 in Illinois.

Upon retirement in 1981, she and her husband moved to Halcyon House in Washington, Iowa. When Lillian Dehne, administrator of Halcyon House, learned that Diana had librarian experience, she asked Diana to be the librarian a Halcyon. Diana's husband, Francis, was interested in the library too. He helped shelve the books and gave much financial help to buy the books. The library was designated "Diana's Place" in 2008.

During her lifetime, Diana was a member of St. James Catholic Church, DAR, DAC, and AAUW and was active in PTA, Delta Delta Delta sorority, Questers, Fortnightly and Chapter J PEO. She was named to Who's Who of American Women in the 1970's. In 2008, Diana received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Iowa Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

She is survived by her daughter Mary Diana Simpson of Hackettstown, New Jersey; son Anthony Halda and wife Jodi of Klamath Falls, Oregon; six grandchildren including: Rob Simpson and wife Kim of Carlstadt, New Jersey; Mike Simpson and wife Julia of Camp Red Cloud, South Korea; Jim Simpson and wife Melanie Lynskey of Los Angeles, California; Shannon Halda Wipf of Portland, Oregon; Jennie Lee and husband Jack of Klamath Falls, Oregon; Anthony Halda and wife Shannan of Klamath Falls, Oregon; great grandchildren: Hannah and Logan Lee; Katie and Andrew Halda of Klamath Falls, Oregon; Zoe Christine Fernandez of Portland, Oregon; Nicholas Simpson of Camp Red Cloud, South Korea; and Francis Raymond Simpson of Carlstadt, New Jersey; as well as many nieces and nephews including Jean Morrison Macenski and husband Dan of Washington, Iowa.

Diana was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 2006, brothers, Max Coffey, Hubert Coffey, Francis Coffey and Dr. Jim Coffey and sisters Marcia Morgan, Helen Grass, Kathleen Morrison and Jean Gray, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Diana Elisabeth Coffey and Francis Adolph Halda were married on 23 December 1942 at Immaculate Conception Church in Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA. They lived at 1124 S. Avenue B, No. 2E in Washington, Washington Co., IA from 1996 to 2005.⁴⁶⁵⁹⁸ Francis Adolph Halda⁸⁴³³, son of Francis Adolph Halda and Ida May Jedlinsky, was born on 6 March 1915 in Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA.⁴⁶⁵⁹⁹ He lived with his parents in Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA on 9 April 1930. He lived with his parents in Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA on 10 April 1940. Francis died at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Johnson Co., IA on 11 November 2006 and was buried at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Washington Co., IA on 15 November 2006 .⁴⁶⁶⁰⁰
Obituary, Iowa City Press-Citizen, Nov. 13, 2006

Francis A. Halda, 91, of Washington, died Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the St. James Catholic Church in Washington. Interment will be at Elm Grove Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon Tuesday at the Jones -- Eden Funeral Home with family present from 6 to 8 p.m.

Coe Cosmos (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Dated 8 Nov 1939.
Newspaper Editorial Staff: Diane was the "Society Editor" from 1939 until June 1941
Item published in Iowa City Press Citizen [Iowa City, Iowa] dated Friday, 13 June 1941.
Under the headline "Our Town Newsy Briefs About People You Know"
Miss Diana Coffey, who was graduated from Coe college in Cedar Rapids Monday, is passing her vacation in the home of her mother, Mrs Lola Coffey, 125 River street. Miss Coffey, a graduate of Iowa City high School, will teach vocal music in the Ainsworth schools next year.
Article in Iowa City Press Citizen (Iowa City, Iowa) 2 Auguat 1951.
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Halda of Westmont, Ill., have moved to Richmond, Va., where Mr. Halda has a job as an accountant. Mrs. Halda was the former Diana Coffey of Wellman.

Diana Elisabeth Coffey and Francis Adolph Halda had the following children: