Mary Ida Niebauer-Corbett

Mary Ida Corbett (Niebauer) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, daughter of Victor J. Niebauer and Irma A. Niebauer (Muller), passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 20, 2025, surrounded, both physically and in spirit, by her children.

Born on March 1, 1940, Mary attended St. John's Grade School in Girard, Pennsylvania, where she also served as the organist and taught all three of her children. Her youngest, Anita, refused to call her Mrs. Corbett and rebelliously called her Mom instead. After grade school, she attended the Convent of the Holy Spirit in Techny, Illinois, and after making her Cursillo, she worked the Kairos Prison Ministry. Mary graduated from Villa Maria High School, and then attended Villa Maria College, majoring in Chemistry. Mary obtained her final degree in Nursing from Marshalltown Community College in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Mary was a mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, wife, friend, teacher, mentor and nurse. She lived her life to the brim, with droplets (love) spilling out of her cup on occasion. Mary was 85, but rather than years, her life is best exemplified by those droplets.

Mary shared droplets with everyone she knew; her family received full cups. They wouldn't change that for the world.

Mary was not a passenger in her life, she sat in the driver's seat. Her life was full of twists and turns, and she met those twists and turns head on. She saw the world and experienced the things it had to offer. Mary had a deep appreciation for both knowledge and faith. She also had a passion for teaching others. Above all, she had an unending love for her family.

Mary was preceded in death by her siblings, David J. (Carol) Niebauer, Matthew A. Niebauer and Charles A. Niebauer, and her daughters, Anita (Hugh) McGovern and Denise (Lynn) Hayden. She is survived by her siblings Roseanne R. (Peter) Havighorst, Anita A. (Chuck) Barto, Edward J. (Christine) Niebauer, and Joseph V. Niebauer; her son, Ron (Carrie) Corbett; her son-in-law, Hugh (Sondie) McGovern; her daughter-in-law, Benedicte Corbett; her ten grandchildren: Sara Johnson, Nicole McGovern, Josh McGovern, Joe McGovern, Eric Hayden, Jeremy Corbett, Macy Corbett, Nicolas Corbett, Ana Corbett and Thomas Corbett; and her nine great-grandchildren: Aiden Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Adam Johnson, Ethan Patty, Mia McGovern, Mackenzie McGovern, Sophie McGovern, Sadie McGovern and Roen Hopkins.

A funeral mass will be held on June 27, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. at Saint John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Girard, Pennsylvania. Interment will be held at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery.