Mary Holesinger

Mary Holesinger, age 81, of rural Mt. Carroll died Wednesday, October 12, 2011, at home with her family. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. Visitation will be held 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friday, October 14, 2011 at the funeral home. Cremation will be accorded following the services. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given in Mary’s honor for Hospice Care of America, Freeport.
Mary was born June 29, 1930 in Albany, Illinois, the daughter of Klaus and Effie (VanderVinne) Wiersema. She attended Fulton Schools. On January 29, 1949, Mary married Vernon Holesinger. They have celebrated 62 years.Mary enjoyed planting and harvesting side-by-side with her husband on the Elver and Eleanor Eisfeller farm near Mt. Carroll, for fifty-five years. She was the center of the family, served as a mother and grandmother to those who had none, and there was always “a picnic at Grandma's house." Mary was also a charter member of the Faith Reformed Church of Lanark, where she taught Sunday School and was a member of the Ladies Guild. Mary enjoyed painting, ceramic doll-making, quilting, needlework, and gardening. She served as an Election Judge of Salem Township and also on the Salem Township Board. She was a member of the Carroll County Farm Bureau Women’s Group and a past member of the Lanark School Board.Mary will be dearly missed by her husband, Vernon of Mt. Carroll; four children, Ralph (Marty) Holesinger of Cedarville, Illinois, Gwen Mowen of Winnebago, Illinois, Mike (Jody) Holesinger of Erie, Colorado and Jeff (fiance Vita) Holesinger of South Elgin, Illinois; twelve grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. Mary is preceded in death by five siblings; a grandson; a great grandson; and both parents.