Agnes Cecilia Schell
Jerseyville | Thursday, July 22 2010
Agnes Cecilia Schell, 82, died at 9:25 a.m., Thursday, July 22, 2010 in the year of our Lord in her home in Jerseyville.
Aggie's story is truly one that is a celebration of life. She was a loving wife and mother, as well as a loyal sister and friend. Her zest for life inspired many who met her through her church, community and work. Her Irish heritage instilled in her integrity and a faith to trust in God for all things.
Born on a farm outside of Jerseyville, Illlinois on November 18, 1927, Aggie was the seventh of nine children born to James & Katherine (Gavin) Gibbons. She was educated at St. Francis Xavier Grade School and Jersey Township High School.
Aggie married Raymond C. Schell on November 19, 1947, and they had thirteen children. Ray and Aggie made a great couple and many in the Jerseyville area will remember the several family owned businesses they ran, which included Ray's Service Station, Jerseyville Ice Company and the Schell Family Concessions. On December 18, 1969, Ray passed away suddenly and left the Jerseyville community shocked and saddened. Aggie's Irish determination and her strong faith in God helped her carry on. She sold several of the family businesses and became the circulation manager for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the Alton Telegraph in the Jerseyville area. Many of the youth in Jerseyville were encouraged by her sage advice and her Irish temperment as paper carriers. She retired from the Alton Telegraph in 1993, after more than 20 years of service. She remained active in retirement as a real estate agent and math tutor.
Surviving her are her thirteen children and their spouses, Barbara Schell of Chicago, Wayne & Bonnie Schell of Jerseyville, Virginia & Kent Fitzjarrald of Decatur, Dennis & Becky Schell of Conover, NC, Douglas & Judy Schell of Jerseyville, Gary & Joann Schell of Kirkwood, Mo., Patrick & Kathy Schell of Jerseyville, Janet Schell of Jerseyville, Guy Schell of St. Louis, Mo., Kathy & Gerald Hilton of Rock Hill, SC., Constance McDanielof Hickory, NC., Cindy & Todd Parish of Jerseyville, and James & Melissa Schell of Dow; 41 Grandchildren; six great grandchildren.
Aggie is also survived by her sisters & brothers in law, Eileen & Warren Allen of Grafton, T-Ann and Charles Krepel of Alton, and a brother, Patrick Gibbons of Mercer Island, Wa., and was the last surviving aunt of the Joseph F.C. and Anna T. Schell family.
In addition to her parents and husband, Aggie was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul Gibbons & Herb Gibbons; and three sisters, Margaret Hickey, Katherine Hackworth and Dorothy Haegele.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where a rosary will be recited at 2:30 p.m.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10 a.m., Tuesday at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Jerseyville, where she was a longtime and loyal member.
She will be laid to rest alongside her husband at the St. Francis Xavier Cemeteyr in Jerseyville.
Memorial gifts may be given in her memory to the St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic Schools in Jerseyville.
Crawford Funeral Home
