Mary Mason

SPRING VALLEY — Mary Rita Mason, 96, a lifelong resident of Spring Valley, and recent resident of Courtyard Estates of Bradford, passed away Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, with family by her side in OSF St. Francis Medical Center in  Peoria.

She was born Aug. 6, 1920, in Tiskilwa to Raymond A. and Mary Ellen (Barry) Smith. She married Donald R. “Mickey” Mason on Oct. 25, 1941, in Immaculate Conception Church with the Rev. P.T. Walsh officiating.

She attended Immaculate Conception School in Spring Valley and graduated as valedictorian of Hall High School, Class of 1938. She attended Brown’s Business College in LaSalle.

She was employed by Central Finance Co., American Nickeloid Co. and provided secretarial support for her husband’s business, Mason’s Super Service Station.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church and Maria Society; St. Bede Mothers Club and Immaculate Conception School Mothers Club; and was a former American Legion Auxiliary member.

She is survived by three daughters, Ellin (Michael) Lotspeich of Bradford, Rita (Jacques) Brouillette of Mundelein and Sharon (Dale, deceased) Henning of Troy, Ohio; two sons, Charles (Judith, deceased) of Rockton and Robert (Deb) Mason of Fort Wayne, Ind. She was blessed by 20 grandchildren, Doug, Kristine and Cynthia Henning; Stacia, Karli and Julia Mason; Andrea, Melissa, Abigail and Michael Mason; Jennifer, Michelle and Patrick Weaver; Michael and Charlie Lotspeich; Elizabeth and Sara Mason; and Jacques, Danielle and Gabriel Brouillette; and 18 great-grandchildren. She cared deeply for many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband on May 17, 2001; her parents, including stepmother Lavina Smith; two sisters, Ursula Smith and Margaret Esther Smith; two brothers, Eugene Smith and Joseph Smith; one son, D. Kevin Mason; a daughter-in law, Jane Ellen Mason; a granddaughter, Alicia Marie Mason; two sons-in-law, Thomas Weaver and Dale Henning; and two daughters-in-law, Judith Mason and Janet Mason.

Prayers will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in the Barto Funeral Home, Spring Valley, with a Mass at 11 a.m. at Nativity of Our Lord Parish (Greenwood Street location) in Spring Valley. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, in the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the Richard A. Mautino Memorial Library in Spring Valley.

Online condolences may be left at www.bartofh.com.