Mary M. Westfall (85) of Watson
Published on October 22 2023 6:41 pm
Mary M. Westfall, 85, of Watson, IL, passed away on Sunday, October 22, 2023 after a courageous battle with leukemia. Mary made a valiant effort to live life to the fullest.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 27, 2023 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Effingham. Burial will be in Watson Cemetery in Watson. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday followed by a 7:00 p.m. CCW rosary at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart School or the American Red Cross. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here.
Mary was born on July 22, 1938, in Grove Township, Jasper County, IL, the daughter of Leo and Catherine (Habing) Weishaar. She married John F. Westfall on February 27, 1960. He preceded her in death on April 9, 2017. Mary was a telephone operator early on and then farmed alongside her husband. She was an active member of Sacred Heart Church and served communion, helped with dinners and sang in the choir. Over the years, Mary also routinely donated blood and platelets to help others. Mary had a competitive spirit and was an avid sports fan. Mary especially enjoyed watching the St. Louis Cardinals and Fighting Illini. She loved line dancing, playing cards, dominos, and board games. Mary was a great bowler, even being inducted into the USBC Women’s Hall of Fame. She also was a 4-H Leader for many years.
Mary is survived by her children, Mary (Mike) Eastin of Murfreesboro, TN, Brian (Deb) Westfall of Columbia, SC, Carol (Matt) Stead of Teutopolis, Lyle (Pam) Westfall of Watson, and Jenny (Michael Jaros) Westfall of Glen Carbon, IL; grandchildren, Lauren (Erik) Hardison of Augusta, GA, Kaitlin (Davis) Moore of Columbia, SC, Claire (Tanner) Rennels of Altamont, IL, Emily Westfall (Trent Heuerman) of Mason, Cory (Maci) Westfall of Mason, Audrey (Caleb) McDaniel of Columbia, SC, Madalyn Stead of Teutopolis, Deacon and Evan Brown of Glen Carbon; great-grandchildren, Delaney, Barrett, McAuley and Everett Hardison, Brinley and Baylor Moore, Rowen and Ava Rennels, and Annie Westfall; step-grandchildren, Eric Stead (Beth Rentfrow), Tom (Erica) Stead, and Emily Stead; and step-great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Everett, and Story Jane Stead and Eveyn Stead; sibling, Jane Emmerich; and sisters-in-law, Wilma Beckley, Janet (Melvin) Czerwonka, and Marylene Weishaar.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; siblings, Leonard Weishaar, Vincent (Marian) Weishaar, Bernice (Tom) Fehrenbacher, infant brother, David Paul Weishaar; and brothers-in-law, Don Emmerich and Bob Beckley; and parents-in-law Herschel and Marie Westfall.