Mary Ward

Mary Catherine "Kate" Ward, 87, died Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at Jerseyville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.She was born in Meppen, Il on Jan. 20, 1930, and was one of eight children born to Albin "AJ" and Frances (Smith) Tepen. As a young girl, her family moved to Carrollton, where she attended the Dover School in rural Greene County, and after the completion of her eighth grade year, moved to Jerseyville, where she has remained.Kates' life could be described in two words, faith and family.   She was a devoted and faithful Catholic being baptized at a very young age at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Meppen, and a longtime and faithful member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Jerseyville.   She was also a loving and devoted wife and mother who gave everything she had to her children and grandchildren.  She had a deep love for her husband, and enjoyed the many moments that they spent camping and fishing both as a couple and also with family.She married Donald Lee Ward on July 31, 1948 at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Jerseyville, and together they shared nearly 52 years together, as well as the joys and responsibilities of raising their family of eight children before his death on April 16, 2000.She is survived by her seven children and their spouses,  Martha Ward, William and Cathie Ward of Jerseyville, Sharon and Kenny Thomas of Fieldon, Richard and Vonda Ward, Donna and Dennis Fry, Robin and Mike Groppel, and Roger and Jill Ward all of Jereyville;  a daughter in- law, Anita Ward of Jerseyville; 22 Grandchildren; 33 Great Grandchildren; four sisters and two brothers in-law, Dorothy Tittle, Esther and Dale Foiles, and Gertrude Nevlin all of Jerseyville, and Adele and Bill Randolph of Carrollton; and a sister in-law, Genevieve Tepen of Jerseyville.In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her oldest son, John Ward on Dec. 16, 2010; two brothers and a sister in-law, Alfred and Helen Tepen and Victor Tepen;  and a sister and brother in-law, Anna and Stewart Carpunky.Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville, with Father Marty Smith officiating.She will be laid to rest alongside her husband at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery in Jerseyville.Memorials may be given to the St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic Schools in Jerseyville or to the American Cancer Society.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home