Mary E. Breen, 102, of Tuscola, IL, passed away at 6:35 p.m. Monday, May 7, 2018 at her home, surrounded by family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 14, 2018, at Forty Martyrs Catholic Church, 201 E. Van Allen, Tuscola, IL with Father Delix Michel as celebrant. Burial will follow in the Tuscola Township Cemetery, Tuscola, IL.

A Rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 13, 2018, with visitation following until 8:00 p.m. at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola, IL.

Mrs. Breen was born June 11, 1915 in Golden Gate, Wayne County IL, the daughter of Benjamin and Tressie Harris Smith. She graduated from Bement High School in 1934 and was the last surviving member of her class. She and Charles J. Breen, Sr. were married on July 20, 1935, in Tuscola, IL. They were happily married for over 67 years spending their entire married life in rural Tuscola, until Charles preceded her in death on September 1, 2002.

Mary is survived by a son: Kevin (Janet) Breen of Tuscola, IL; 5 daughters: Joan (Joe) Jacobs of Charleston, IL; Judy (Norm) Bomkamp of Lacey, WA; Nancy (John) Bell of Pawnee, IL; Kathy (Vern) Kleiss of Pesotum, IL and Brenda (Don) Voeller of San Juan, PR; 21 grandchildren: Deidre (Fred) Banks, Leisa Breen, Charles Joseph (Paula) Breen III, Patrick (Charlotte) Breen, Emily Taylor, Ben Breen, Jennifer (Russ) Madlem, Melinda (Doug) Daugherty, Lori (Mark) DiVona, Brent (Tammy) Bomkamp, Valerie (Ken) Brodeck, Theresa (Steve) Helmbrecht, Kimberly (Randy) Frick, Kendra (John) Clark, John (Sabine) Bell II, Mary (Ed) Huonder, David (Jeanne) Kleiss, Charles Kleiss, James (Teresa) Kleiss, Sean Breen and Shannon Breen; 34 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a son, Charles Breen, Jr. and his wife, Shirley; a daughter, Patricia (Charles) Simpson; a great-granddaughter, Madeline Huonder; and four brothers, Carl, Glenn, Delos and Charles Smith, and a sister, Doris Mason.

Mary was a member of the Forty Martyrs Catholic Church and the Altar and Rosary Society. She was honored as the first recipient of the Forty Martyrs Mother of the Year. She took great joy in being a wife and mother, while excelling at many of the different responsibilities on the family farm over the years, including hauling grain to the elevators until the age of 85. Always being an avid reader and lifelong learner, later in life Mary even "read" over 1,000 audiobooks. She enjoyed challenging crossword puzzles, tending to her flower and vegetable gardens, knitting and crocheting. She was talented and loved to design and sew, even making her daughters' bridesmaids' and flower girls' dresses. Mary was a creative cook and was known for her delicious coconut cream pies and cinnamon rolls.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Tuscola Public Library or to the donor's choice.


Online condolences to the family may be shared via hilligossshraderfh.com