Loretta I. Prior

Loretta Irene Prior, 99, of Davenport, died peacefully at home surrounded by her six children on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the feast of St. Joseph. Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 26th at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1923 Fillmore Street, Davenport, Iowa with Rev. Nicholas Akindele officiating.  Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Monday, March 25^th at Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main St., Davenport, concluded by a rosary.

Loretta Irene Riffel was born August 27, 1924, in West Burlington, Iowa, the sixth of seven children of William and Theresa (Beckman) Riffel.  She attended St. John’s Grade School, Burlington and graduated from Burlington High School in the class of 1942. 

During World War II, she was employed at the Iowa Ordinance Plant in Middletown, Iowa, working in the office as secretary on the Percussion Element Line.  After the war ended, she worked in the Administration Office.  She went on to be Secretary at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company and at the Jordan Brokerage Company, both in Burlington, Iowa.  She also worked in the office of Herberger’s Department Store in Burlington.  She finished her work career after ten years in the office of Mercy Hospital (now Genesis) in Davenport.

Loretta was united in marriage to John G. Prior on June 12, 1948, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Burlington, Iowa.  He preceded her in death on December 11, 1996.

As a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, she served as extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, and member of Altar and Rosary Society, the Prayer Chain, the Ministry of Praise and Mercy, and auxiliary member of the Legion of Mary, and a member of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.  As a former parishioner at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, she served on the Altar and Rosary Society and was a member and officer for the St. Mary’s Home and School and Assumption Parents’ Club.

Loretta was a member of the American Association of Retired Persons, CASI, and the Quad City Times Plus 60 Club, and volunteered at Manor Care Nursing Center, Davenport.

Loretta’s most precious God-given talent was truly serving as mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother. She was a beautiful, gracious, generous, humble, sweet, loving and prayerful woman, a strong woman and a role model to all. 

She enjoyed music, reading, word puzzles, embroidery, walking, dancing and traveling.  She also enjoyed spending time with her loving family and wonderful friends. 

Survivors include her children, Denis (Linda) Prior, Davenport; John Jr. (Carol) Prior, Bloomington, Illinois; Patricia Cannaday, Eldridge; Catherine (Steve) Schade, Davenport; Irene (James) Loftus, Davenport; and Rita (James) McCaffrey, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 19 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren with the 14^th to be born in April, 3 step-grandchildren and 3 step-great grandchildren as well as a sister, Helen Schmeiser, Burlington, Iowa, and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her husband, Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Antoinette Riffel and Frances Berendsen, and brothers Clarence, Joseph and William, five sisters-in-law, five brothers-in-law, four nieces and two nephews.  May they rest in peace.

Memorials can be made to Holy Family Catholic Church and the pro-life Women’s Choice Center, Davenport.  We want to thank Beacon of Hope Hospice, especially Nicole and Ashley for their support and comfort.