In Memory of Cynthia Cay Grove

Cynthia Cay Grove, age 86, of Odebolt, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at her residence of Odebolt, Iowa.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the St. Martin Catholic Church of Odebolt, Iowa. Father Joseph Dillinger will officiate. Committal services will follow in the St. Martin Catholic Cemetery of Odebolt, Iowa.

A Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., with a Rosary Service at 9:00 a.m., on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the St. Martin Catholic Church of Odebolt, Iowa.

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Cynthia Cay Grove was escorted to our Blessed Mother and her Guardian Angel Constance and received into God our Fathers loving arms on September 8, 2022, at the age of 86. She bravely battled breast and lung cancer until our Lord called her home. Her life will be celebrated and remembered with love and admiration. She will be vastly missed.

Cynthia was born in Trenton, NJ, on July 12, 1936, to Catherine F. (Dempsey) and Francis A. Grove. She was baptized and confirmed at Holy Cross. She attended and graduated from Trenton Central High School and furthered her education at St. Francis School of Nursing and Trenton State College where she graduated with honors and received her RN, BSN. She worked at Helene Fuld Hospital in the ICU, CCU, nursing homes as a charge nurse, a DON, and a corporate nurse consultant. She was a regional nurse for DHS/DMAHS in New Jersey before retiring and moving to Odebolt, IA. Her nursing career spanned more than 40 years.

She worked for Union Camp and American Cyanamid in Princeton, NJ and Thiokol in Trenton, NJ, as a chemist and research analyst. She tutored students in calculus and chemistry. She spoke three languages fluently, Latin, German and French. Cynthia loved to learn. Education was very important to her.

Cynthia was a 4^th degree Columbiette and a member of the Rosary Altar Society, president of the Legion of Mary-Mary Gate of Heaven, vice president for the Diocese of Trenton for Legion of Mary. She was a prayer warrior, member of the Blue Army, member of the Holy Name Society in New Jersey and a member of the Ladies Guild in Odebolt. Cynthia taught religious education at Holy Cross in New Jersey and at St. Martin’s in Odebolt. She was a eucharistic minister and lector at Holy Cross and St. Martin’s.

Cynthia traveled to Venezuela, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Fatima pilgrimage in Fatima, Portugal, Our Lady of Medjugorje Queen of Peace and Mother of the Redeemer in Bosnia and Herzegovina where she attended mass and met Mother Theresa, she traveled to Israel for the Holy Land pilgrimage where she rode a camel and floated in the Dead Sea.

She visited Honolulu, Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial, Oahu, Kailua-Kona and Hilo, Hawaii and visited the Kilauea Volcano Overlook and Crater Rim. She walked through and explored cooled lava tubes. She traveled to Virginia Beach, Washington, D.C., Illinois, and Massachusetts where she enjoyed dune buggies rides. Cynthia also traveled to New York where she visited Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, Maryland, the Grand Canyon, and Hoover Dam.

Cynthia loved to sail and be out on the water. She enjoyed hot air balloon rides. She rode the zipline at Disney World with her grandson. She loved adventure and loved life. Cynthia loved all of God’s animals; especially horses, cats, and dogs. She enjoyed reading her Bible, crocheting, and doing word search puzzles.

Cynthia was a good listener and giver of sound advice. She was always willing to lend an ear or a helping hand. She loved meeting new people. She treasured time with her family; especially her grand and great-grandchildren. She was deeply loved by her family and friends.

Cynthia married Thomas Francis Morrison in 1956. They were blessed with two children, Cynthia Cay “Cyndi” and Thomas Francis “Thom”. Cynthia was a devout Christian. She raised her children to believe in and trust in God, to work hard and earn an honest living. To love with your whole heart, keep an open mind, don’t be naive, and never stop learning.

Our mom was our best friend and our fiercest advocate. We could always count on her. We’ll be lost without her. We know she will always be with us in our hearts. We are grateful God has called her home and has ended her pain and suffering. Growing up we always said “I love you”. We never said “Good-bye”. We said “See you later”. So, for now we’ll say “See you later mom, mum mum, GG. We love you always and forever”.

Cynthia was preceded in death by her parents Francis Archabald and Catherine Frances (Dempsey) Grove; husband Thomas Francis Morrison; brother Francis Robert Grove; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sister-in-law Anne (Gervasio) Grove; daughter and son-in-law Cynthia “Cyndi” (Morrison) and John Davis; son and daughter-in-law Thomas “Thom” and Patricia “Patti” (Gasper) Morrison of Succasunna, NJ; grandson and granddaughter-in-law Joshua “Josh” and Shawna (Kennedy) Davis; great-grandsons Conner, Colin, and Colton Davis; nephew Patrick “Pat” Barrett; cousins Jacqueline, Katheryn, and Walter John Dempsey;  Billy and Jack Grove; dear friends Elaine Nemitz and Legion of Mary sister Nereida Saganowski.