Jeanette Becker

Jeanette R. Becker, nee Merod, 95, of Belleville, IL, born February 23, 1928, in Belleville, IL, died Thursday, September 7, 2023, at Cedar Creek of Shiloh, Shiloh, IL.

Jeanette was a homemaker and a member of St. Peter’s Cathedral. She was also a member of the Cathedral Quilters for 33 years and a member of the Smithton American Legion Auxiliary, GEM Unit 937 since 1949. She was a past member of the St. Clair County Genealogical Society and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Sodality.

Above all, Jeanette was the loving force in our family. She took her role as mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to heart, striving to keep us united and expressing to us how important family was. Her friends were also a central part of her life. She always made sure to stay in touch with greeting cards, phone calls, visits and, of course, providing rides for her friends to numerous outings.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin J. Becker, whom she married on May 10, 1949, and who died on April 22, 2012; her parents, Oscar and Amelia, nee Schneider, Merod; her stepmother, Mildred Merod; a brother, Kenneth Merod; a stepbrother, Dennis Rohn; six brothers-in-law, Kenneth Becker, Harold Becker, Virgil Becker, Charles Mulkey, C.A Schuchmann, Tommy Sneed; and three sisters-in-law, Sharon Mulkey, Jolene Becker, and Betty Becker.

Jeanette is survived by five children, Bruce (Pamela) Becker of Fairview Heights, IL, Mark (Linda) Becker of O’Fallon, MO, Mary Schaefer of Belleville, IL, Dale (Catherine) Becker of Springfield, IL, and Karen Becker (Judy Pecina) of Shiloh, IL.

Also surviving are 14 grandchildren, Landra (Jeffrey) Reed, Tammi (Phillip) Bottcher, Amy (Jeffrey) Rau, Nicholaus (Jessica) Becker, Andrew (Heather) Becker, Stewart Coil, Todd (Kyra) Schaefer, Kyle (Shaundra) Schaefer, Robin Schaefer (Ross Klucker), Sarah (Samuel) Sevener, Emily (Paul) Kabbes, Christine (Andrew) Novaria, and Connor and Aidan Becker-Pecina.

Jeanette is also survived by 24 great-grandchildren, Bradley Reed, Logan and Garrett Bottcher, Christian Rau, Brandon Becker, Madelynn Frawley, Aiyanna and Aniza Delgadillo, Amani Becker, Baylie Barba, Waylon Becker, Isaac Wilson, Abbey and Andrew Schaefer, Tyler Schaefer and Daniel Nolen, Alayna, Adam, Amelia and Archer Sevener, Bennett and Mackenzie Kabbes, Hannah and Sydney Novaria.

She is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Judy Merod, Dora Becker, and Carol Sneed; a stepsister, Betty Schuchmann; many nieces and nephews, and good friends, especially Marcy Orsa and Joyce Pecina.

The Becker family would like to extend a special thank you to Hospice of Southern Illinois for their kindness and support and also to the loving staff at Cedar Creek of Shiloh.

Memorials may be made to the Notre Dame Academy, Belleville, IL. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.

Visitation:  Friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, September 11, 2023, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at St. Peter’s Cathedral Catholic Church, Belleville, IL. The American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 937 will hold a brief ritual at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Funeral:  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at St. Peter’s Cathedral Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Fr. Godfrey Mullen and Msgr. James Buerster concelebrating.

Burial will be at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.