Mary Ann Gehrs

Mary Ann Gehrs
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Mary Ann Gehrs, nee Bergmann, 83, of Swansea, Ill., went to be with her Lord on Saturday, December 31, 2016. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. Mary Ann was born on July 22, 1933, in Breese, Ill. and grew up in Bartelso, Ill.

Mary Ann loved her faith, family and friends. Her dedication to her family and love for life was obvious to anyone who knew her. She worked hard, prayed hard, and played hard. Mary Ann was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She loved going to any event that involved her grandchildren. Mary Ann enjoyed singing, dancing, playing pinochle, and watching the St. Louis Cardinal games. She was a great cook and excellent baker; her pies, homemade bread, and blackberry jelly will be missed by many. Mary Ann was always a pleasure to be around with her positive attitude and happy disposition. She was a retired employee of Egyptian Stationers in Belleville. Mary Ann was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Belleville; she was a former member of St. Mary’s choir and volunteered in many organizations including the St. Vincent De Paul Society.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Elizabeth, nee Weier, Bergmann; sisters, Cecelia (Ferdinand) Thien and Adella (August) Sundrup; brothers, Edward Bergmann, in infancy, Lawrence Bergmann, and Joseph (Ruth) Bergmann; brothers-in-law, Robert Rickhoff and Robert (Delores) Gehrs; sisters-in-law, Imogene (Louis) Calcaterra-LePique and Janice Gehrs.

She was the beloved wife of 62 years to James B. Gehrs, whom she married on April 22, 1954, in Bartelso, Ill.;
loving mother to Dr. James L. (Julie) Gehrs of Belleville, Ill.,
Wendy (David) Raetz of Swansea, Ill.,
and Cynthia (Leonard) Klein of Freeburg, Ill.
proud grandmother to James L. (Lauren Choate-fiancée) Gehrs II, Benjamin Gehrs, Meghan Gehrs, Matthew (Dr. Kasey) Raetz, Nicholas Raetz, Patrick Klein,
and Dr. Andrea (Dr. Andrew) Monestero;
and doting great-grandmother to Audrey Raetz.
Mary Ann is also survived by her sister and life-long friend, Lucille Rickhoff;
her sister-in-law, Sally Bergmann;
her brothers-in-law, Thomas Gehrs, Nicholas (Gerry) Gehrs,
Jerry Gehrs, John (Sandee) Gehrs, and William (Mary) Gehrs;
nephews, nieces, cousins, many friends;
and her caring neighbors, Steve and Cheryl Duff.

Memorials may be made to Catholic Urban Programs, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or masses. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, January 6, 2017, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, January 7, 2017, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Belleville, Ill.

Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 7, 2017, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Belleville, Ill., with Fr. Christopher Anyanwu and Msgr. William McGhee concelebrating. Interment will be held privately at a later date in Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, Ill.

Condolences Left For Mary Ann Gehrs

Dear Wendy and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family for the loss of your Mom.

Take care.
Hugs, Jean

Jean Fenwick, St. Louis, MO, 63123


For Wendy and her extended family. We have been with your mom only a few times but we seem to know her well.A acorn never falls far from the tree.Our love for our moms will never die as we carry the torch that lights so many lives.We celebrate her long life that has left a lasting impression.Rest in peace. Don & Susie Lienesch

don lienesch, Waterloo, Illinois, 62298


Jim and Family,

Please accept our deepest sympathy for your loss.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you.

Paul & Jeannie Cermak

Paul Cermak, Millstadt, Illinois, 62260


I am so very sorry for your loss!

Hildy Bandy, Belleville, Illinois, 62223


Sorry for your loss, Jim & fam. I remember your Mom and mine as room mothers for our primary grades at StMary. Funny how we sometimes remember tiny pearls. We needed their form of loving and giving. Blessings to you in Jesus’name.

Larry Dahm, San Francisco, CA, 94115


Mary Ann’s family,
I am so sorry for your loss. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Mary Beth

Mary Beth Kling Becker

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