Mary Louise Yankaitis
Mary Louise Yankaitis
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Mary Yankaitis Obituary
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Helenn Franzgrote
June 11, 2022
I miss our letters...she was a beautiful writer.
Helenn P Reitsch Franzgrote
June 11, 2020
I truly miss Mary Lou's beautiful Christmas letters, and, of course, our continued research into family history. It was a shame that we didn't realize our relationship earlier in life. Her German Grandmother was the niece of my German Grandfather , and it was a mutual friend in Rockford, Julie Elliott, that realized we were both speaking of the same family.
Both she and I were writers, and we exchanged many letters back and forth from Rockford to Denver. On one occasion we met up with Jeanne Reitsch Floberg, another cousin. How I with I could get those days back againl
Rest in peace, Mary Lou. You are so fondly remembered.
With love, Helenn Reitsch Floberg
Willow Beach reunion
Sue Perry
June 27, 2017
Mary Lou at her desk in Rockford
Sue Perry
June 27, 2017
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Sue Lemble Perry
June 27, 2017
I will so miss my wonderful cousin, Mary Lou. She and my father were friends in their youth and Mary Lou recounted many stories to me of their family visits back and forth between Rockford and Ann Arbor.
I loved being at Willow Beach with her and over the years she showed me all the great restaurants, bakeries, thrift stores, and sights around Cambridge ( and Rockford as well when we were there together ). We avidly shared and compared family histories and gleaned over many old letters, photos, and ephemera together. I will miss her good nature, her generosity, her smile, and her friendship. Such a special person !
June 22, 2017
My sincere condolences to the Yankaitis family. Mary Lou and I shared the love of writing, history, genealogy and animals. We were friends, neighbors and internet buddies. I will miss our nearly daily correspondence. She will be missed by many. I really hope animals go to heaven as well so she can be with her dear Petey once again.
Shelley Martin
Veronica James
June 22, 2017
I will miss the special times we shared on the holidays and up at the lake as well as all the books we shared miss you and will be praying for your family ♡
Shirley & Gene Fedeli (originally from Rockford)
June 19, 2017
What an amazing, wealth of information, pleasure woman to work (volunteer) with!!!
Mary Lou as she was lovingly called:) was one of the key people to help the Graham Ginestra House board. Her smile and positive attitude was a "dream". The photo in her obituary was a perfect choice of what I remember about her.
Sympathy to her family from Gene and Shirley Fedeli. We know she is definitely with the Lord and at peace...but probably is "helping" with some file or project:)
Much love, Mary Lou!
June 18, 2017
Dearest Yankaitis family,
Mary Lou has been a part of our lives for more years than I can remember. Our children (now in their 40s) learned to swim at Lake Ripley. We always called it (and still do) our special "Happy Place". Our children and grandchildren have so many happy memories. Rest in Peace dear Mary Lou. We will miss you but will keep you close to our hearts forever and ever. Ralph, Sue, Buddy and our children and families. Heal quickly Yankaitis family.
June 18, 2017
I was saddened to hear of Mary Lou's passing. We had such fun doing genealogy
together. Her father was the child of my
grandfather's sister, Teresa. My grand-
father was William Reitsch. Teresa remained in Zittau, Germany, and William came to Rockford in 1870. Mary Lou, Jean Reitsch Floberg, and I spent a delightful lunch together as we
compared our genealogical notes. Every
Christmas, I looked forward to Mary Lou's letters..so well written and informative.
Rockford has lost a very bright lady. I will treasure the letters she wrote so
beautifully. With sympathy..
Helenn Reitsch Franzgrote (Denver, CO)
Jack
June 18, 2017
Tom - sorry to hear of yor loss.
Connie Kuntz
June 18, 2017
My family and I are so sad to learn of Mary Lou's passing. We worked together at the Rockford Writers' Guild and she was our neighbor. I loved reading her writing and I also felt such joy seeing her driving around with Petey. My dad called her Eagle Eye because she could catch typos and errors in manuscript and directory editing so well and so quickly. She will be missed. Our condolences to her family.
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4311 North Mulford Road, Loves Park, IL 61111
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