Funeral services for Margaret Mary Dalbey, 81, of Edmond, Oklahoma, formerly of Jefferson, Iowa, will be 10:30am Saturday, November 17, 2007 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson.  Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.  Friends may call at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson after 4:30pm Friday, where there will be a 7:00pm Vigil Service, followed by visitation with the family until 8:30pm.          

It is with great sadness that the family of Margaret Mary Dalbey announced her passing on Monday, November 12, 2007 in Edmond, Oklahoma at the age of 81 years.
           
Margaret Mary was born in Jefferson, Iowa on May 13, 1926, the daughter of Francis Patrick Cudahy and Margaret McNulty Cudahy.  Margaret Mary lived in Jefferson for most of her life, moving to Edmond, OK in June 2005.
           
Margaret Mary graduated from Jefferson High School in 1944 and worked as a legal secretary for her brother, Francis Cudahy, and other local attorneys until her retirement. She was happily married to Yates Dalbey for over 35 years.
           
She was a life long member of St. Joseph’s parish and active in church activities as well as the local PAWS organization, Ingleside Club and various volunteer activities.  She was honored in 2002 as a “Shining Star” by Governor Tom Vilsack for her on-going commitment to Iowa’s older adults through her volunteer efforts at the Greene County Medical Center.
           
Margaret Mary loved traveling and accompanied her children and grandchildren on many vacations.  Her last “big road trip” was when just she and her brother Francis drove from Iowa to Alabama, Texas, and Oklahoma to visit friends and family several years ago.
           
She loved all animals, but especially her dogs. Several years ago she was instrumental in pestering the Purina Dog Food Company for so long that they eventually delivered a semi-truck full of dog food to the local PAWS group for the benefit of all the dogs in care at the time.  She will be laid to rest with the ashes of Checkers, her last dog, to accompany her.
           
Her parents, husband Yates, and four brothers, Jerry, Ray, Cy, and Leo Cudahy as well as infant sister, preceded her in death.

Margaret Mary will be lovingly remembered by her children and their spouses, Pat and Marilee Dalbey of Dothan, AL and Claudette (Peachie) and Mel McVay of Edmond, OK.  She will be forever remembered by her grandchildren, Jason Dalbey of Chicago, Megan Dalbey of Chicago, Chad Clipperton and family of McKinney, TX and Ryan Clipperton and family of Jefferson, and her brother Francis L. Cudahy of Jefferson, numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and her friends. 

Memorial donations in memory of Margaret Mary may be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the local Jefferson PAWS Chapter, or Full Life Hospice of Oklahoma City.