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Mary Bressler Obituary
Born: July 16, 1938 in Sterling, Illinois
Died: June 21, 2022 in Palm Harbor Florida
Mary Jo (Bickford) Bressler, 83, of Palm Harbor, FL, passed peacefully June 21, 2022. She was born July 16, 1938 to Evelyn (Schmitt) and Ned Bickford in Sterling, IL she graduated from Sterling High School, attended Carthage College, and taught Second Grade until she married Neal Bressler, on August 15, 1959.
They started their family in Sterling and moved several times while Neal worked in banking. Mary Jo, a homemaker, became active in each community, substitute teaching and volunteering with local service agencies. Neal and Mary Jo moved to Florida in 1984 where she enjoyed working in retail. She most cherished spending time with her family and possessed a strong and deep faith. This faith guided her approach to life.
She was an educator at heart and never stopped inspiring others to be curious and to love reading and learning. A natural story-teller and comic, she always had an audience hanging on each word or laughing at something she said or did. Mary Jo was athletic, loving softball and playing on the women's varsity basketball team in college. She was also adventurous and had a great love for the outdoors as well as for gardening and cooking.
Mary Jo is survived by her husband, Neal Bressler; twin daughters Barbara (Thomas) Robbins of Dubuque, IA and Beth (John) Metzler of DeKalb, IL, her son Scott of Clearwater, FL; grandchildren August Metzler, Andrew Marnocha, Katherine (Cody) Metzler Ballenger, Alexander Robbins and great grand-daughter, Charlotte Ballenger.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Sally Ballard and Barbara Hoy Franklin.
Funeral service will be at 2:00 PM Saturday, July 9, 2022 at Schilling Funeral Home 702 First Avenue, Sterling, IL 61081 with Reverend Makayla Dahleen, pastor, of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sterling, officiating. Visitation will be from 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM, prior to services at the funeral home. Following the service, a prayer session and blessing will be held at graveside at Mapleridge Cemetery adjoining First Lutheran Church-Jordan, on Hwy 40, north of Sterling.
A memorial has been established and may be sent to Schilling Funeral Home, P.O. Box 592, Sterling, IL 61081, and will be forwarded to the family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
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2 Entries
Mary Kay Cavanaugh Murphy
July 5, 2022
Dear Neil and family,
My prayers and fond memories are with you all. It was a long journey for Mary Jo to to arrive at her final rest in peace. My years working with the Bickford sisters especially Mary Jo, were fun, busy, and sometimes a bit toooooo fun. Ned had to rein us in and remind us to tend to business. I wouldn't change one iota of those memories. Ned's most able employee, Virginia Bass was also part of our crew, she was a much loved and valued manager and and integral part of the store management (and fun). We are sad and share your loss and like you, the happy, sometimes silly times will always be a treasure.
Mary Kay and Bill Murphy
Carl Huffman
July 2, 2022
I went to through school with Mary Jo. She was as always a very nice lady. She touched the hearts of everyone that knew her.
She will be missed by all of her friends .
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