Mary S. Tillotson

1916 - 2017

Mary S. Tillotson

Mary S. Tillotson was born to eternal life on October 28th at the age of 101. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Kenneth F. Tillotson and her three siblings. Born on May 16, 1916 in Peoria, Illinois, Mary graduated from the Academy of Our Lady in Peoria and worked as a secretary before marrying the late Kenneth F. Tillotson. Ken's job took them to Puerto Rico for three years and to the Goodyear rubber plantations of Sumatra Indonesia for 11 years.

Mary and Ken raised two sons and two daughters; Father Frederick J. Tillotson O. Carm of Osprey, Florida, Steven E. Tillotson of Palm Harbor, Florida, Ellen Marie Phares of Akron and Kathleen Anne Phillips of Houston, Texas. Mary's greatest delight was nurturing and spoiling her seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Mary lived the life of a colonial pioneer in the rubber plantations of Indonesia from 1949 until 1959 when the family returned to settle in Akron. She helped to develop a social life for the Americans living on the plantations in Sumatra. She also home-schooled her children.

She was an artist and an accomplished needlecrafter who donated most of her work to the Women's Guild and gift shop of St. Thomas Hospital, where she volunteered for 30 years. She was a member of St. Sebastian's Garden Club and spent many hours planting and cultivating flower gardens at her home. For her last 15 years, she knitted hundreds of stocking caps and scarves which she gave to Catholic Charities each Christmas to warm the poor.

She is deeply missed. Nana, we love you. Be at peace.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Sebastian Catholic Church, 476 Mull Ave., Akron, Ohio 44320. Entombment to follow at Rose Hill Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Sebastian Parish.