MARGARET (COLLIGAN) ALEXANDER, 89 years, of Lyons, Nebraska, passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.

Margaret Mae Colligan Alexander was born May 2, 1921, at the family home one mile east of Lyons, Nebraska.  She was the youngest child of William and Mary Agnes (Rafferty) Colligan.

Margaret was a lifelong member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. 

She attended the Lyons Public Schools and was a member of the Class of 1939.  Upon graduation, she moved to Omaha, attended Creighton University, and graduated from St. Catherine's School of Nursing in 1942.  After becoming a registered nurse, she worked in hospitals in Omaha, Santa Monica, California, and finally  Blair, Nebraska.
 
On August 26, 1948, she married Wallace Alexander. They lived on a farm west of Lyons, where Wally farmed with his brothers.  They were the parents of two sons and six daughters. 
 
 After being a stay-at-home Mom for about 20 years, Margaret decided that she wanted to return to nursing.  The first hurdle she had to get over was learning to drive the car.  After accomplishing that, she started working at St. Francis Hospital in West Point and finally at Oakland Heights for 15 years until her retirement in 1990.

Religion, education, music, nursing, and being with her family were Margaret's greatest pleasures.  She and Wally raised their children with the assumption that they would all graduate from high school and attend college.  They were extremely proud when they attended the eighth college graduation.  As their children left Nebraska for other parts of the country, Margaret and Wally enjoyed traveling, both to see their family and other parts of this country and Canada.
 
When Wally, passed away in 1992, Margaret picked up the pieces of her life and quietly continued doing the things that she enjoyed, especially visiting her grandchildren.  To help fill the void in her life, Margaret decided to do something that she'd always wanted to do, learn to play the piano.  She never became a concert pianist, but she thoroughly enjoyed learning and making progress.  As her eyesight began to fail, she had to give up her new hobby and enjoyed just sitting and listening to music.
 
In 2002, Margaret decided that she wanted to move from her home in Lyons to an assisted living facility in Omaha. Margaret then moved to Logan Valley Manor in July of 2003 and finally to Oakland Heights in January 2011.  She and her family are extremely appreciative of the outstanding care she received at both of these facilities and area hospitals.  Heartfelt thanks go to all the healthcare providers who cared for her these last years.
 
On April 20, 2011, Margaret peacefully met her Savior and was reunited with her beloved husband, Wally, her parents, William and Aggie; brothers,  Bernard and Paul; and sisters, Nora Colligan and Mary Alexander.
 
Left to remember their mother are Bill of Pasadena, CA, daughters, Trish (Roy) Rempe of Superior, NE, Jean (Ron) Burbridge of Council Bluffs, IA, Peggy Alexander of LaVista, NE, Cathi Alexander of Papillion, NE, Mary Lou (Phil) Noonan of Burlington, IA, Camilla (Albert) Dyke of Safford, AZ, and John (Lucy) Gypsum, KS as well as 18 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and a host of friends.

FUNERAL MASS: Monday, April 25, 2011, 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Lyons.

VISITATION:Saturday, April 23rd, 9 a.m. - Noon at Pelan Funeral Home in Lyons. Sunday, April 24th, 6 - 8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. ROSARY all at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Visitation Monday will also be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Lyons Cemetery

MEMORIALS:To the Family

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

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