Mary E. Pierce was the daughter of Edward Pierce and Nora Powers. She was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she lived for most, if not all, of her life. She married Martin D. Hughes, Jr. in 1906. They had no children. Prior to her marriage she worked as a public school teacher, and afterwards she continued to teach private pupils.

Related Items:
Obituary for her husband, Martin.
Biography of father in law Martin Hughes from 1891.

Illness is Fatal to
Mrs. Martin Hughes
Mrs. Mary Ellen Hughes, 55, wife of Martin D. Hughes, 222 Ninth avenue, widely known in social circles, died at a local hospital Wednesday evening, following an illness of two weeks.

Mrs. Hughes was born in Council Bluffs and lived here all of her life. She was active in St. Francis church, the St. Francis Altar society, the Catholic Daughters of America, the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the Council Bluffs Woman�s club.

Previous to her marriage to Mr. Hughes, as Miss Mary Ellen Pierce, she was a widely known teacher in the public schools.

She is survived by one sister, Mrs. W. H. Hombach of Grand Island, Neb., and one brother, J. H. Pierce of Omaha.

The body was taken to the Beem-Belford funeral home, but at 3 p. m. Thursday it was taken to her home to lie in state until the hour of the funeral. The service will take place at St. Francis church Friday at 10:30 a. m., the Rev. James P. Danahey officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph�s cemetery.

Funerals
Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Ellen Hughes were held at St. Francis church Friday at 10:30 a. m. Requiem mass was celebrated by the Rev. James P. Danahey. Present in the sanctuary were the Rev. J. F. Costello, the Rev. Paul Marasco, the Rev. Ignatius Stein, O. S. B and Msgr. F. P. McManus. Pallbearers were Harold Hughes,¹ John Mullen,² Charles Pierce, Lyman Hughes,³ J. F. Wilcox, jr.,⁴ and Ben Hermsen. Ushers were T. M. Delaney and Daniel T. Sullivan. Music was furnished by Mrs. Wallace A. Mead and Miss Mary Berrigan. Burial was in St. Joseph�s cemetery. The Beem-Belford funeral home was in charge.