Mary Ellen (Faber) Thurwanger
1934 – 2021
Mary Ellen (Faber) Thurwanger, 87, of Ottawa, passed away on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at her home.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at St. Columba Church in Ottawa, with Rev. David Kipfer, Pastor, officiating. The Memorial Mass will be live streamed. Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery. A visitation will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with a prayer and rosary service at 4:30 pm. Due to current State of Illinois guidelines social distancing and face coverings will be required.
Mary was born on January 21, 1934 in Redfield, IA to Harvey and Mary (Reeves) Faber. She married Elwyn “LeRoy” Thurwanger on May 3, 1952 in Santa Barbara, CA. Mary worked for Snap-On Tools until her retirement in 1994.
Mary Ellen and her husband LeRoy always prioritized God, Family, and Friends. She was active in the St. Columba church and the matriarch of her bible study and Holy Rosary groups. Until her passing, Mary Ellen was inquisitive and adventurous; learning to paint in her sixties, skiing and riding a motorcycle in her seventies, and skydiving in her eighties. She traveled to all fifty states and formed close friendships with people from all walks of life. Mary Ellen had an infectious, welcoming smile, a charming naiveté, and a sharp sense of humor. She found the good in people and knew that lasting loving relationships are the key to a happy life. She is loved and will be missed.
She is survived by 5 children; Donna (Robert) Walton of Georgia, Mary Ann (Charles) Van Grevenhof of Morris, Cathy Fultz of Ottawa, Janet Cetwinski of Fairview Heights, IL, and David Thurwanger of Wisconsin; a daughter-in-law, Donna Thurwanger of Oglesby;15 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren with 2 on the way; 2 sisters, Jeanne (Roger) Zuercher and Georgene (Larry) Tegeler; and a brother, Ernest (Neva) Faber.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, LeRoy; a son Gary Thurwanger; 2 brothers; a sister; and 2 sons-in-law, James Fultz and Darrell Poirier.
You may sign the online guestbook and share remembrances at www.MuellerFH.com. Mueller Funeral Home and Crematory 800 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350 815-434-4433