Mary Elizabeth (Christian) Dresch, age 51 of Brighton, passed unexpectedly at home on the morning of Thursday, September 24, 2026, with her loving husband of almost 31 years at her side.
Born at Alton Memorial Hospital on November 10, 1974, she was the daughter of Richard and Deloris (Hurst) Christian. She attended Alton High School and was employed at Olin Brass, in Employee Benefits/HR, for over 20 years. Most recently she was the Office Manager at Quackcom IT & Telecom Solutions in Granite City, IL.
Her happiest chapter in life was watching her son Jarrett play baseball at Southwestern High School. Along with her very best friend, Dana Emmons, she spent countless hours shopping and organizing fundraising and events for the PATHS Athletic Club at Southwestern. Wherever her husband and son were, whether dirt-track racing or RC racing, that’s where she wanted to be. At the track, she was known as the “spicy red-head” who would scream from the stands if another car dare bump her husband or baby boy! She enjoyed crafting and weekend side-x-side trips with friends. Her dreams, left unfulfilled, were to (finally) get to see Aerosmith in concert, buy a motorhome, and to one day see the polar bears and Northern Lights of Alaska.
Preceding her passing were her father Richard Christian, her mother’s companion of over 30 years Richard Orban, her mother and father-in-law, Bill and MaryJo Dresch.
She leaves behind a sister, Angie (Jeff) Nason of Jerseyville, nieces Chelsea Lovel, Morgan Goldacker and Madison Jackson, brother and sister-in-law Wendy (Rick) Jackson of South Roxana, nephew Josh (Laci) Jackson and his daughter Josie, her husband Joe Dresch, and their only son (her everything) Jarrett.
Visitation will be Wednesday, September 30 at Paynic Home for Funerals, 618 E. Airline Dr., East Alton, IL from 3:00 p.m. until services begin at 7 p.m.
Memorials can be made to the Joe Dresch Family in care of Paynic Funeral Home to help the family with funeral expenses. The date for a “Celebration of Mary’s Life”, being planned by Angie Nason and Dana Emmons, will soon be announced.
An online guestbook is available at www.paynicfh.com