Mary I. Elko

Mary I. Elko (Melaga), longtime resident of Aurora, passed away June 8, 2014. Mary was born on October 5, 1919 and immigrated from Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1923 with her parents, John and Suzanna Melaga settling near Hannibal Missouri.

Mary met John Elko working at Caterpillar in Peoria and married in 1947. They lived in Peoria until moving to Aurora in 1959.
Mary was an avid baseball fan instilling a love baseball in her son, David. Mary attended many Oswego High School Varsity Baseball games during the years Dave coached, cheering on the Panthers! Nothing made Mary happier than being with her family having dinners together!

Mary was a longtime member of Holy Angels Church. She worked at Robert Hall Clothing Store for many years and for West Aurora School District as a bus aide close to 25 years, retiring at 84 years of age.

Mary is survived by her sons, Dave (Lynn) Elko of Oswego and John (Lucille) Elko, Jr. of Benton, IL; grandchildren, Kristin (Dan) McCree, Jason (Nicole) Elko, Kevin (Casey) Elko and Amanda (Bart) Bradley; great-grandchildren, Carson and Abby Elko, Logan and Tyson Elko and Fallyn Bradley; her nephew, Paul (Linda) McDaniel of Peoria and special people, Kathy Farrell and Otis Clay.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years; her parents and her siblings, Anne McDaniel, John Melaga and Steve Melaga.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 12, 2014 from 11 A.M. until the service hour of 12 P.M. at The Healy Chapel, 332 W. Downer Place, Aurora, IL. Deacon Tom Hawksworth will officiate. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery.

Donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation or Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer.