Mary Nowak

Mary Margaret (Heitzig) Nowak, 89, of Jerseyville, passed away peacefully at 11:32 p.m., Friday, January 25, 2013 at the Jerseyville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center where she had been a resident for the past year.She was born on October 5, 1923, on the Heitzig family farm in Westwoods, near Fieldon, Ill., the eighth of ten children born to the late Joseph & Mary (Schmieder) Heitzig.Raised in a hardworking family, Mary was always proud to be a "country girl".  As a young woman, Mary worked at International Shoe Factory in Jerseyville until the birth of her first child.  Later, in 1958, she began working part time at Rudolph's Department Store in Jerseyville and was employed there for more than thirty years until her retirement.She married Max J. Nowak on Sept. 3, 1947 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Westwoods, and together they have shared more than 65 years together.In addition to her husband, Max, surviving are her four children & their spouses, Judy & Sam Tapson of Elkhorn, Wi., Gary & Christi Nowak of Edwardsville, Marilyn & Ron Swearingin of Jerseyville, and David & Jill Nowak of Chesterfield, Mo., seven grandchildren, Sean Tapson of St. Charles, Il., Michael Tapson of Chicago, Erica Proctor of Edwardsville, Jessica Roentz of Jerseyville, Ryan Swearingin of Carrollton, Lauren Swearingin of Edwardsville, and Marritt Nowak of Chesterfield, Mo.;five great grandchildren, Carly & Morgan Tapson, Mia Tapson, and Ella & Josie Proctor; a sister, Leona Green of Jerseyville, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by six brothers, Cletus, Vincent, Henry, Bernard, Aloys and Joseph Heitzig; and two sisters, Mary Magdalen and Katherine Heitzig.Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, February 1, 2013 at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where a Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m..A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m., Saturday, February 2, 2013 at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville with Father William Hembrow officiating.Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery near Fieldon.Memorials may be given to the St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic Schools in Jerseyville

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home