Mary Margaret Masching

Mary Margaret Masching, 90, Pontiac, formerly of the Emington/Odell area, died at 10:45 AM, Saturday, December 24, 2011, at her apartment at Evenglow Lodge, Pontiac. A Memorial Mass will be at 10:00 AM Friday, December 30, 2011, at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Odell. Father James Rickey will officiate. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Loretto. A dinner at the Elks Country Club, Pontiac, will follow interment. Friends may call from 4 to 8 PM Thursday, December 29, 2011, at Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home, Pontiac. The rosary will be prayed beginning at 8 PM.

Memorials may be made for Masses or to St. Paul's Catholic Church, Odell, or to St. Paul's Catholic School, Odell. In lieu of donations, please consider spending time with someone who is elderly or homebound in an effort to enhance their quality of life.

Mary Margaret was born March 16, 1921, in Union Township, the daughter of Ludwig and Margaret (Goley) Louis. She married Leo J. Masching on September 19, 1940, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Loretto. He died September 18, 2002. She is survived by four sons, Raymond (Judy) Masching, Odell; Ronald (Cathy) Masching, Odell; Thomas (Cheryl) Masching, Coal City; and Michael (Melanie) Masching, Emington; two daughters, Nancy (Dennis) Sullivan, Pontiac; and Mary Ann Judd, Champaign; 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grand children. Mary Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and one great-grandchild, Abby Cox.

She is also survived by her siblings and their spouses, John (Kay) Louis, DeKalb; Louise (Clarence) Masching, Pontiac; Vincent (Jean) Louis, Lakeland, FL; Joe (Joyce) Louis, Panora, IA. In-laws surviving are Joe (Florence) Masching, Saunemin; and Joann Masching, Odell.

Mary Margaret graduated from St. Paul's Catholic High School in 1939, and was currently a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Odell. She was active in various church organizations, serving as president of the Altar & Rosary Society at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Loretto. She was very devoted to her Catholic faith, participating in religious pilgrimages to Medjugorje, Yugoslavia and to Rome, Italy.

She also served on many committees in the Odell and Emington communities. She was a volunteer at OSF St. James Hospital, Pontiac.

Over the course of her life she was a full-time homemaker assisting her husband on the family farm. Mary Margaret's true vocation was that of motherhood -- dedicated to creating a warm, loving home where the aroma of fresh-baked goods greeted all who entered.

Mary Margaret loved dancing with her husband, crocheting, playing euchre, gardening, sewing, baking, and spending time with her family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Since 2007, Mary Margaret lived in an apartment at Evenglow Lodge appreciating the care of the staff members and enjoying the friendship of the many residents who resided there.

Mary Margaret spent her life being a loving spouse and mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, as well as a good friend to many. She served as a source of inspiration and taught us by example the importance of faith, family, and friends. She was a treasure who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.