Mary Louise Paladeau

     Mary Louise “Mary Lou” (Modaff) Paladeau, 84, of Earlville, IL, formerly of West Chicago, IL, passed away on Friday, October 17, 2025, at The Pavilion Nursing Home in Earlville, IL. She was born December 5, 1940, in St Charles, IL, the daughter of Ralph and Geraldine (Shaffar) Modaff. She married Thomas D. Paladeau. on June 22, 1962, in Fort Dix, New Jersey where Tom was stationed in the Army. When Tom was sent to Frankfort, Germany, Mary Lou and their baby son, Thomas Jr. “T.J.” followed and stayed for the two years of Tom’s service. While in Germany, Mary Lou waitressed at the Plantation Club, an Enlisted Men’s Club at the 97th General Hospital.

     Mary Lou was a beautiful, caring, loving person and opened her heart and home to anyone in need. Her life always centered around her family, her Catholic religion, and the many cats and dogs she and Tom rescued. She was an avid reader, liked to crochet, play cards and coffee clutch with her sisters.

     Mary Lou had many careers, including as a telephone operator and sales for Illinois Bell, was the owner of The Chalk Palace, a small business in West Chicago, was a realtor and home appraiser, and retired after 19 years as an accountant for the Holmstad retirement community in Batavia.

     She was preceded in death by her husband and son, her sisters – Marcia Sedlacek, Barbara Disbennett, and Patricia Petru, and her brothers – Ronald, Gerald and David Modaff, and her nephew Todd Surkamer.

     She is survived by her granddaughter, Loretta (Matthew) Pinkham and great grandson, Thomas Dewey Pinkham, and her sister, Sheila Henschel, and many nieces and nephews.

     Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Earlville, IL. Memorial Mass will follow at 12:00 noon at the church at 221 W. Union St. in Earlville, with Father Joseph Domfe officiating. Burial will follow at St. Theresa Catholic Cemetery in Earlville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the charity of your choice. For more information or to sign the online guest book, go to www.EighnerFuenralHomes.com

Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home 
PO Box 808 
Earlville, IL 60518 
815-246-6491