Mary Frances Eaton

Mary Frances Eaton, age 66 of Pecatonica, IL, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, October 8, 2022, surrounded by her family and a lot of love. She was born November 7, 1955 in Freeport, IL, the daughter of the late Francis and Margorie (Nath) Beldt. She graduated from Pecatonica High School with the class of 1973, and married her beloved Micheal Eaton in 1977. She went on to work for Economy Casualty and Fire Insurance Company right after high school until she had children and then stayed home to care for her family and home.  Mary then went on to work at the Pecatonica Public Library in 1997 and was known as a beloved librarian there for 24 years, until she retired in December, 2021.

Along with the library, Mary also loved her flowers, gardening, reading, spending time with her family, and her daily walks (she even stayed consistent with her daily walks during the Winter months).  Many people in the community remember waving at Mary on her daily walks. Mary was also very active with St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pecatonica and the Pecatonica Food Pantry. She was also a newly-appointed Pecatonica Library Board Member.

Mary was a woman of great faith and had a strong prayer life.  She also valued kindness, positivity, hard work, and discipline – and it showed in the way she lived her life and raised her two children.

She is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Micheal Eaton of Pecatonica; sisters, Janet (Don) Kluck of Lena, IL and Judy (Jim) Koplin of Ripon, WI; two children, Lisa (Tim) Ling of Irvine, CA, Matthew (Shannon) Eaton of San Jose, CA, and one very special granddaughter, Harper Eaton.  Mary was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the excellent care and compassion Mary and her family received from the nurses in the Critical Care Unit of Swedish American Hospital.

A Visitation for Mary will take place on Thursday, October 13, 2022 from 4-8 pm at Walker Mortuary in Freeport, IL. Her funeral service will be held on Friday, October 14, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pecatonica, IL. Interment will take place at Pecatonica Cemetery, with a funeral luncheon to follow back at St. Mary’s church hall.

A memorial fund has been established with the Pecatonica Public Library and Pecatonica Food Pantry, in memory of Mary. Condolences may be shared at www.walkermortuary.com.