- Born on: September 9, 1948
- Departed on: November 10, 2023
- Resided in: Solon, IA
Celia Marie Rhodes
Celia Marie Rhodes, born Celia Marie Shaver on Thursday, September 9, 1948, died peacefully in her Solon, IA home, surrounded by family both present and virtual, on the evening of Friday, November 10. A tender, creative, soul, Celia touched every life her path intersected with. Author, visual artist, homemaker, photographer, domestic goddess, keeper of recipes, og minister of culinary delights, repository of cheeky quips, mentor, shaper of young lives, subtle agitator, witness and herald of unsung beauty, friend of nature, tea pot afficionado, believer of magic, igniter of passions, proud of her family, present in the moment, caregiver, administrator, speaker upper, conqueror of fears, beautiful penmanship haver, experimenter, observer, knower of birds and flowers, collector of coffee mug slogans, master jam maker, keeper of lost technologies, in concert with fairies, inspirer, irreverent t-shirt wearer, poor night driver, in my home are many mansions haver, beader, sewer, mother lover, perfect pie crust constructer, inventor, concrete poetry maker, feather cartographer, saver of lives, canner, keeper of inspirational quotes, personalized license plate archivist, smile in others maker, fast friends bond former. You walk with the albino deer now and you will be missed by many.
Taking with her secret knowings, all of the following will be pale by comparison: any attempt at thumb print cookies, spaghetti pie, applesauce, apple butter, or jams, non-judgmental creativity, meaning in saying "I just want you to be happy and live your life," find your truth and live it.
She was preceded in death by her “angel” son Matthew, her father, Isaac Howell Shaver and mother Dorothy Marguerite (Kluber) Shaver. She is survived by her husband of 27 years, two months, and twenty-four days, Kevin Eugene Rhodes; two sisters, Sheryl Rolfs of Cedar Rapids, and Claudia Wolter and husband Alec of Cedarburg, WI; and one brother, John Shaver and wife Laura of Normal, IL; children Noelle Holmes of Cedar Rapids, Michael Merck and wife Sonel Breslav of New York, and Bryan Merck and wife Kerrie (Laird) Merck of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren Anya and Ayden Laird and Ireland Merck of Cedar Rapids and Ivonne and Sofia Merck of New York; nieces Jeanne Guynn of Cedar Rapids and Jennifer Hem of Ames, IA.
We love you to the moon!!!
Taking with her secret knowings, all of the following will be pale by comparison: any attempt at thumb print cookies, spaghetti pie, applesauce, apple butter, or jams, non-judgmental creativity, meaning in saying "I just want you to be happy and live your life," find your truth and live it.
She was preceded in death by her “angel” son Matthew, her father, Isaac Howell Shaver and mother Dorothy Marguerite (Kluber) Shaver. She is survived by her husband of 27 years, two months, and twenty-four days, Kevin Eugene Rhodes; two sisters, Sheryl Rolfs of Cedar Rapids, and Claudia Wolter and husband Alec of Cedarburg, WI; and one brother, John Shaver and wife Laura of Normal, IL; children Noelle Holmes of Cedar Rapids, Michael Merck and wife Sonel Breslav of New York, and Bryan Merck and wife Kerrie (Laird) Merck of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren Anya and Ayden Laird and Ireland Merck of Cedar Rapids and Ivonne and Sofia Merck of New York; nieces Jeanne Guynn of Cedar Rapids and Jennifer Hem of Ames, IA.
We love you to the moon!!!
