J. Allegra Shediwy

December 22, 1920 - August 22, 2018

(Jennie) Allegra Shediwy, 97, of Oskaloosa died August 22, 2018, at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. She was born December 22, 1920, in Anita, Iowa, the daughter of Roscoe and Mary Gardner Lowden. She graduated from Underwood High School with the class of 1938. On September 20, 1941, she was united in marriage to James W. Shediwy. To this union two daughters were born Sandra and Kay. On November 5, 1997, James died. The family lived DeSoto for 45 years. When her children were in school, she worked as a cook at the DeSoto Schools for many years. She enjoyed having her home be the gathering place for her girls’ friends and teammates. She was an excellent cook and many of those girls that would gather at her house still talk about how much fun they had and good food they ate at the Shediwy house. Once her children were raised, Allegra went to work at Parker Brothers assembling games for over 10 years. In 1989, they moved to Oskaloosa. In Oskaloosa, she spent many hours volunteering at the food pantry. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa and Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed gardening, doing crafts, especially embroidery work and crocheting. Later in life she learned to do paper toiling, she was quite good at it and earned several blue ribbons at the Southern Iowa Fair. Allegra was also an avid reader. Most important to her was her family, she was the glue that kept the family close. She had a kind and gentle spirit that was always present, even in her final days. Her family include her two daughters, Sandra (Terry) Merical of Oskaloosa and Kay (Dick) Werts of Earlham; six grandchildren, Andrew (Becky) Merical, Linda (Doug) VanWyk, Matthew Merical, Samantha Merical Wonderlich, Wendy (Eric) Jansen, and Philip Werts; many great grandchildren; and great great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, David Lowden and Jesse Lowden. Graveside Funeral Service and burial will be held Saturday, September 22, 2018, at 11:00 AM in the Oakland Cemetery in DeSoto, Iowa with Reverend Robert Waldron officiating. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. As was Allegra's wish her body has been cremated and no visitation is planned. Memorials may be made to MHP Hospice Serenity House.