Mary McGlynn

Mary Margaret McGlynn, nee Herr, 96, of Belleville, IL, born May 25, 1927, in Pontiac, IL, died Thursday, June 22, 2023, at her home surrounded by loved ones.

She was known to all as Margy. Margy attended school in Chatsworth, IL, where she was Valedictorian of her class. She graduated St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, in 1949 B.A. English, Cum Laude. It was there she met Robert (Bob) E. McGlynn. They got engaged at the Grotto on the campus of Notre Dame. They were married in 1951 at Notre Dame’s Sacred Heart Basilica.

Margy and Bob moved to Belleville, IL, after their wedding. There, they raised their nine children, and were blessed with 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Margy was a devout Roman Catholic. She made Catholic education a high priority for her family. All her children attended and graduated Catholic grade school, Catholic high schools, and Catholic colleges. Two attended Catholic law school. That is a combined total of 150 years of Catholic education. Her grandchildren have a combined 164 years of Catholic education.

She served as a Director of the Board of Althoff Catholic High School. She and Bob served as co-chairmen of the St. Mary’s College Parents Council. She also served as a Director on the Board of Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois.

In 2004, she was elected a Delegate to the Republican National Convention held in New York City, NY.

Not only was she dedicated to Catholic schools, but she was also passionate about their sports teams, especially football. She was a great fan of Notre Dame football which she followed her entire life. She also loved Althoff, Queen of Peace, the Dayton Flyers, the Creighton Blue Jays and the Saint Louis University Billikens. She also loved the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Blues.

She has been an active member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Belleville since its formation in 1954.

To attempt to capture the extraordinary lifetime of Catholic witness and service of Margy McGlynn is impossible. Yet, because of her pleasant demeanor, her easy smile, her kindness and charity, all who met her knew she was uniquely special. And this is true of people of all ages and all walks of life. Through her generosity, love and talent, she created a wealth of good fortune and happiness. This immeasurable wealth has enriched countless lives over her 96 years, and will continue to bear fruit for generations to come.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Stephen H. and Marrie, nee Ryan, Herr; her brother, Stephen F. (Barbara) Herr; her father-in-law, Robert E. McGlynn; her mother-in-law, Dorothy McGlynn (Noel) Spannagel; and two brothers-in-law, James B. McGlynn and Daniel F. McGlynn.

She is survived by her loving husband of 71 years, Robert E. McGlynn; nine children, Robert (Kirsten) McGlynn of San Jose, CA, Mary Kathleen (Anthony) Maloney of Mishawaka, IN, Gregory (Mary) McGlynn of Monroe, LA, Margaret Mary (Mark) Harmon of Atlanta, GA, Michael (Claire) McGlynn of Belleville, IL, Dorothy (David) Rathgeber of Chicago, IL, Daniel (Denise) McGlynn of Belleville, IL, Hon. Stephen (Mary Anne) McGlynn of Belleville, IL, and Lawrence Linus McGlynn of Belleville, IL; 12 grandchildren who affectionately called her “Mimi”, Anthony Maloney of Houston, TX, Megan Maloney of South Bend, IN, Nicholas McGlynn of Houston, TX, Dr. Maura McGlynn (Dr. Nick) Setliff of Denver, CO, Dr. Margaret (Dr. Daniel) Reynolds of St. Louis, MO, Kathleen (Sia) Khaledi of Washington DC, Dr. Mary Claire McGlynn of St. Louis, MO, Madelyn McGlynn (Dr. Merritt) Coughlin-Smith of Oak Park, IL, Daniel (Haley) McGlynn of Northbrook, IL, Caitlin (Jon) Flikkema of Lakewood, OH, Patrick (Emma) McGlynn of St. Louis, MO, and Dorothy McGlynn of St. Louis, MO; 16 great- grandchildren, Eámonn, Xavier, Ronan, and Marianna McGlynn-Setliff, Marie Claire, Joseph, Patrick, and Rose Kathleen Reynolds, Clara and Maria McGlynn Khaledi, Olivia, Laurel and Declan Flikkema, Dean McGlynn, and Nora and Colin McGlynn; a sister-in-law, Marlene McGlynn-Drake, Ocala, FL; and five nephews and a niece, Thomas (Dorretta) Herr, Stephen Herr, John Herr, and Susanne Herr all of Bloomington, IL, and James C. McGlynn of Petersburg, IL.

Margys’ children and daughters-in-law pitched in to help attend to their mother’s needs. However, the family would like to give a special thanks to Dorothy Rathgeber who has attended to Margy tirelessly for the last few years and moved into the family’s home to stay with Mom. Because of her, Margy had a constant companion, constant love, and constant care. Because of Dorothy, Margy did not have to experience a single day of strangers in a strange place for any of her needs. The family would also like to give special thanks to Mary Rita Benson-Pinkleman for her thoughtful companionship to Mom, and to the wonderful nurses and staff of Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Memorials may be made to Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish or the Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy, Belleville, IL. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.

Visitation:  Friends may visit from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 1, 2023, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Belleville, IL. A Serra Club ritual will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the church.

Funeral:  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 1, 2023, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. Jack McEvilly officiating.

Private burial will be at Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.