Mary Elizabeth Dempster, 96, of Mendota died Jan. 11, 2014, in her
home.
A funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Holy Cross Church,
Mendota with the Rev. Fredi Gomez Torres officiating. Burial will be at
Holy Cross Cemetery, Mendota.
Visitation preceding the Mass will be 9:30-10:30 a.m. in Merritt Funeral
Home, Mendota.
She was born Nov. 15, 1917, in Sterling to Marie (Seidel) and James
Kane. She graduated from Catholic Community High School, Sterling
where she later attended business school.
During World War II Mary worked as a secretary with the Chicago
Ordnance District. After the death of her father in 1944, she returned to
her home town of Sterling where she met Robert W. Dempster after he
returned from serving in the war. They were married on Oct. 17, 1946, in
St. Mary's Church, Sterling.
Mary focused on supporting Bob, raising their children and community
involvement as Bob's banking career took the family to Dwight and Piper
City before they arrived in Mendota in 1965.
In the early 1970s she volunteered with the Mendota Migrant Council,
obtaining grants for the first migrant summer school program in Mendota.
Later she worked as office manager for Agricultural Building Co.
She was a member of Holy Cross Church, Mendota Community
Hospital Auxiliary and Mendota Elks Lodge.
Mary was an avid Cubs fan, a bridge enthusiast and a strong supporter
of Catholic education.
She will long be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother who
enjoyed spending time with friends and family.
Survivors include her son, James (Diana) Dempster of Mequon, Wis.;
her daughters, Marcia Hogan of Chicago and Jean Dempster of South
China, Maine; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; her brother, Frank
(Ann) Kane; and two sisters, Joan (John) Golick and Sister Rita Kane.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her son, Richard Dempster;
her son-in-law, Michael Hogan; her sister, Margaret Kane; and three brothers,
Joe, John and Charles Kane.
Memorials may be directed to Holy Cross School or Illinois Valley
Hospice, Peru.