Mary Alice Connelly's Obituary
Mary Alice Connelly, age 86, was welcomed to her eternal home on Friday, April 29, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital in Mattoon, Illinois. She was born Mary Alice Tingley on December 25, 1929, to Lawris and Alice Tingley. She married her husband of 65 years, Bobby Wayne Connelly, on February 14, 1949. Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, May 3, followed by a celebration of life service beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Markwell & Son Funeral Home in Casey, Illinois. Interment will follow at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Martinsville, Illinois. Memorial contributions may be made to Nazarene Missions International in care of Casey Church of the Nazarene, 1000 U. S. 40, Casey, Illinois 62420. Mary Alice is survived by her daughter, Donna (Russell) Rhodes of Olathe, Kansas; her sister, Jane Morgan, of Brownsburg, Indiana; eight grandchildren, Michael (Michaelle) Connelly, Brian (Paula) Connelly, Heidi Huffman, Brett Huffman, Derek Huffman, Edie (Chip) Noble, Adam (Bethani) Rhodes, and Melissa (Toby) Decorie; thirteen great-grandchildren, and a host of wonderful people who knew her as a friend. Those who preceded her in death include her husband, Bobby Connelly; her parents, Lawris Orville and Alice Alberta Tingley; infant brother, Raymond; brother, Harold Tingley; a sister, Freda Tingley; son, Gary Connelly, and daughter, Brenda Huffman. Mary Alice and Bobby enjoyed life together, endured hardships together, and served others together for 65 years. Her life was spent cultivating her special gifts of hospitality, friendship, cooking, and sewing. Dinners around her table were feasts. When her grown children returned home for a visit or holiday, the meal would include a favorite dish for everyone, even if it meant having two types of potatoes or three different desserts. You are privileged if you have ever had a piece of her angel food cake with caramel icing, a helping or two (or three) of her homemade noodles, or a few of her dinner rolls that were always light and fluffy, but full of flavor. Decidedly, her cooking success was due to the rounded cup of love and a pinch or cup of sugar she added to everything. Although Mary Alice was never employed outside the home, she impacted others through her volunteer work, serving as the local Nazarene Missions International president and church treasurer, or providing comfort food for grieving families, church potlucks, visiting missionaries, and pastors' families through the years. She excelled in every job, yet she was humble and usually embarrassed when receiving compliments. Her family was her joy, especially her grandchildren. There is not a picture to be found of her holding a baby in her arms with anything but a huge smile on her face. She loved playing with the little ones and was never too dignified to sit on the floor with a laundry basket or hard hat on her head to play choo choo train or construction worker, or let her dining room be draped with blankets in order to be transformed into a fort in the midst of an Indian tribe. Even after dementia robbed her of her memory and ability to care for herself, her eyes would find their sparkle once again, and that beautiful smile would light up her face when a baby or little one was in the room. Mary Alice led a life of sweet fellowship with her Lord and loving service to her family and every one she knew. She never harbored anger or grudges, readily smiled, and knew how to endure pain and hardship. Her response to intense pain and discomfort was to sing one of her favorite hymns, "Praise Him, Praise Him!" which she is singing now with the angels around God's throne. To view the full obituary, send a condolence message, light a candle or post photos, visit www.markwellfuneralhome.com. Markwell Funeral Home of Casey, IL is in charge of the arrangements. SERVICES Visitation Tuesday, May 03, 2016 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Markwell Funeral Home 200 N. Central Ave Casey, IL Service Tuesday, May 03, 2016 11:00 AM Markwell Funeral Home 200 N. Central Ave Casey, IL
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