Ida Mae Girard

Ida Mae Girard (nee Presswood), age 92, of Geneva, IL, passed away on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at 10:45 p.m. in Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, IL.

She was born to the late Martin and Ida Mae Presswood (nee Thorman), May 10, 1926, in Pinckneyville, Illinois. Ida Mae grew up with three sisters and one brother on the family farm, the source of many childhood stories.

Ida Mae married the late Louis Girard on July 1, 1944, before he left to honorably serve in WWII overseas. Together, they raised daughter, Carol, and son, Garry.  During their married life, they lived in Streator, Geneva, Pinckneyville, and DuQuoin, Illinois, where they made a lifetime of fond memories with family and friends.

Ida Mae’s favorite hobbies were reading, bird watching, sewing, embroidering, quilting, and most of all, spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  They will always remember how her face lit up when they walked into the room.  Many of her grandchildren are proud owners of a “Nana Mae” original quilt, and are covered in her love every night.

In addition to Ida Mae’s devoted daughter and son, she is survived by her beloved grandchildren, Jim (Laura) Barrett, Julie (Kevin) Renner, Louis (Ashley) Girard, and Garrett Girard; her adored great-grandchildren, Jack and Ryan Barrett, and Meredith, Leah and Mallory Renner; her sweet sisters, Melba Effler and Betty Mathieu; many favorite nieces and nephews, and cherished friends.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her oldest sister, Virginia (Gin) Crain, and brother, Max Presswood.

Funeral services will be held at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL on Thursday, February 28, 2019 11:00 a.m. with Brother Mark Lee officiating. Interment will be in Mueller Hill Cemetery, Pinckneyville, IL.

Visitation will be held at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL on Thursday from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m.

Ida Mae will be buried next to her husband in Pinckneyville, and will finally be home after an admirable life filled with happy stories, now remembered by all who were fortunate to hear them.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Franciscan Court Supportive Living (West Chicago, IL) in Ida Mae’s memory, for the wonderful care given there in her last months of life.

The family also wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and medical staff of Northwestern Medicine Delnor and Central DuPage Hospitals, and the hospice nurses of Northwestern Medicine Home Health and Hospice, for their gracious and loving care of Ida Mae Girard.

For more information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.pyattfuenralhome.com.