Velma Iris Gaffney, age 86 years of Oxford died on Monday, April 15, 2013 at the Oak Park Place in Baraboo. She was born on February 14, 1927 in the Town of Lewiston to Claude and Rose (Brickwell) Ellis. Velma was united in marriage to John Harold Gaffney on September 27, 1947 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Briggsville; he preceded her in death on December 1, 2011. She worked as a cook for the Wisconsin Dells School District for many years, worked with Harold on the farm, was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Briggsville, a member of the St. Mary's Alter Society and the New Haven Homemakers. Velma enjoyed cooking, canning, cake decorating, baking, crocheting and knitting and dearly loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Survivors include 4 children Virginia (Allen) Rathman of Baraboo, Dan Gaffney of Chicago, Dennis (Lynn) Gaffney of Osceola and Jane Bloss of Sun Prairie, 12 grandchildren Jeremy Rathman, Joe (Taren) Rathman, Eric Rathman (Cathy King), Kelly (Jeff) Tiesing, Nickie Rathman (Nick Anstett), Bridget Rathman (Luke Tredinnick), Kaleigh and Daniel Gaffney, Joseph, Jack and RJ Gaffney and Kirsti Bloss (Calvin Raedel), 6 great grandchildren Savannah, Kirsten, Shani, Teagan, Tasha and Donovan and 3 sister in laws Dorothy Coon of Big Springs, Katherine Evans of Oxford and Marge Ellis of Lewiston. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter Iris Jo, sisters Delilah Koch, Josephine Lapp, Betty Schwellenbach and Sarah Morse and brothers Willard Ellis, Stanley Ellis, Rodger Ellis and Jon Ellis. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 19, 2013 at 11:00 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Briggsville with Father James Murphy officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Briggsville. Friends may call at the Picha Funeral Home, Portage on Thursday from 4 - 7 PM and at the church on Friday from 10 AM until 11 AM. Special thanks to the staff at Oak Park Place for their support and care. Service Details. Visitation
Picha Funeral Home
302 East Conant St.
Portage, WI 53901
Thursday, April 18, 2013 4 - 7 PM
Map to Visitation Place
Service
St. Mary's Catholic Church
N 565 County Hwy A
Briggsville, WI 53920
Thursday, April 19, 2013 11:00 AM
Map to Service Place Interment
St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
N 565 County Hwy A
Briggsville, WI 53920
