A visitation in honor of 92-year-old Mae Viola (Thompson) O'Neal, who passed away at her home in the loving arms of her Family, Wednesday, November 28, 2012, will be held at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 2nd Street S.E., on Saturday, December 8, 2012 from 1 to 3 P.M. in Cedar Rapids, where she has lived for the past 51 years.

A Celebration of Life is tentatively planned for spring, 2013 in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

A beautiful tiny baby girl, Mae Viola Thompson was born to George Arthur and Caroline Thompson on May 2, 1920, on their farm in Hartland Township, Freeborn County, Minnesota.

Mae was confirmed and baptized at the Hartland Lutheran Church in Hartland, Minnesota, attended country schools in both Hartland and Manchester townships and also Freeborn High School. Her Norwegian ancestors were of the people that built the churches of North Freeborn County.

Mae shared fond memories of her childhood and cold wintry sleigh rides home from Grandparents, Bertram and Betsy Sybilrud's farm, located north of Hartland, and also of picking raspberries and gooseberries as she walked through the woods of her Grandmother Arslog Thompson Lee's farm, located on the north shore of Mule Lake.

Mae was an accomplished musician with the wonderful gift of being able to play anything she heard on the piano. Many fun evenings were spent gathered around her at the piano as she played while friends and family sang the popular tunes of the era. Her family's love of music, their strong Christian faith, believing in doing what was right and showing support for each other brought her and her family through the Great Depression, World War II and life.

Mae married Harry O'Neal in 1937, and together they made Albert Lea their home until 1961. Because of Harry's promotion by Wilson & Company, the family was relocated to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where their seventh child Rod was born. Mae called and wrote often to the friends and family she left behind in Minnesota, always expressing her love and concern for them. She and Harry always took time for her family and others, no matter how busy they were. Together she and Harry who were married 64 ½ years made many trips with their family back to Minnesota to visit family.

She became a fantastic seamstress with the ability to design and sew for her children and neighbors, formals, wedding dresses, costumes, coats, sportswear, hats and whatever was needed.

Her unquenchable thirst for learning had her constantly taking courses in philosophy and spirituality. She became a "Student of Life", becoming well educated in those areas, obtaining a Master's Degree in Reiki Healing. Mae helped many people by taking them into the O'Neal home. In her later years, she spent much of her time in meditation and prayer, teaching her children and others to put the things we could not handle into God's hands, saying, "let go and let God" and "this too shall pass". She was also a strong advocate of positive thinking, fairness, kindness and understanding.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Art and Caroline, her husband Harry in 2001, her brothers, Arvel, Jim, George, Vernon and Elvern Thompson, sisters, Alice (Harry) Rosenthal and Clarice (Ben) Henrichs.

Brothers-in-Law, Harry Rosenthal, Ben Henrichs, Leo O'Neal and Milt Nelson and sisters-in-law, Winifred, Pauline and Bernice Thompson.

Mae is survived by her children, Patricia (Frank) Gjersvik of Manchester, Minnesota, Carol (Dennis) Colstrup of Albert Lea, Minnesota, Steve O'Neal of Wasilla, Alaska, Kathy Toms, Kevin (Deb) O'Neal and Rod (Shelley) O'Neal of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Luanne (Bill) Watts of Los Angeles, California.

Grandchildren: Kris (Ross) Dahl, Terry (Darah) Gjersvik, Neal (Lisa) Gjersvik, Bill (Andrea) Gjersvik, Cheryl (Mike) Yauger, Judy (Dick) Hoiseth, Danny Colstrup and friend Christine Bolinger, Tim (Anne) Colstrup, Jennifer (Chad) Gardner, Shannon (Gina) O'Neal, Shane (Rhonda) Toms, Jason (Angie) Toms, Allison (John) Jacobs, Rachel (Roy) Tamayo, Kyle Jaycox, Isaac Watts and Hailey and Logan O'Neal.

Great-Grandchildren: Gretchen, Taylor, Bryce and Graham Dahl, Hannah, Lars and Grace Gjersvik, Harry, Lilly and Noah Gjersvik, Langdon Gjersvik, Nicholas and Anthony Hoiseth and Tarah Hoiseth Larson, Michelle Parker and Carrie, Mikey and Andy Yauger, Soren and Eric Colstrup, and Beau and Abe Gardner, Brennan, Lexi and Alisa O'Neal, Shane and Jason Toms, Allison Jacobs, Jaliyah, Maya and Rio Tamayo, Jamison O'Neal.

Great-Great-Grandchildren: Oliver and Hali Dahl, Haaken Dahl, Brandon and Hailey Parker, Gage Studier and Neveah Hoiseth and Chambers Hoiseth.

Brother Harold Thompson and his wife Helen, Brother-in-Law Roger O'Neal, Sisters-in-Law Bernice O'Neal, Blanche O'Neal, Florence (George) Thompson and Florence (Elverne) Thompson.

She is also survived by many caring nieces and nephews.

She will be dearly missed by her family and those who knew her.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under "obituaries".