Mary Busch

Mary J. Busch, 95, died at 10:00 p.m., Friday, September 18, 2009 at Jerseyville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. She was born in Jersey County on Aug. 23, 1914, the last surviving child born to the late James Harry &  Johanna (Raftis) Shortal. Mary was a lady of class and took great pride in her family & her friends.  She was a loyal member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, as well as their altar society, and was a member of both Westlake Country Club and Chamber of Commerce all in Jerseyville. She married Virgil Busch on Oct. 13, 1936 at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville, and together they shared nearly 54 years together before his death on July 27, 1990.  Virgil & Mary were the proud parents of three children, and together they owned and operated Busch's Bowl Inn & Restaraunt for many years. Surviving are her three children & their spouses, William Busch of Columbia, Mo., Mary Charlene & John Schmitz of Tuscon, Az., and Karen & Robert Bertman of Jerseyville; two granddaughters & their husbands, Joan & Mike Steckel, and Jan & Joe DeSherlia all of Jerseyville; five great grandchildren & their spouses, Meredith Steckel & Madeline Steckel, Jennifer & Jeremy Gibson, Mary Karen and Nathan Wittman, and Laura DeSherlia all of Jerseyville; and two great great grandchildren, Coby & Caroline Gibson. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, A. Eileen Sholls; and three brothers, J. Russell, R. Emmitt, and William Shortal. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where a prayer service will begin at 3:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Jerseyville with Father Patrick Gibbons & William Hembrow concelebrating. Burial will be in the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Jerseyville. All are invited back to the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jerseyville after the committal services for a luncheon provided by the St. Francis Altar Society. In lieu of flowers, acts of remembrance in Mary's memory would be appreciated in the form of memorials either to the St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic School or to Masses.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home