Mary Louise Leone

Mary Louise Leone, 76, of Peru passed away July 2, 2024 at home after a courageous battle with her loving family by her side.

Mass of Christian burial will be 12:00 PM Saturday at St. Valentine’s Church in Peru with Rev. J.A. Small officiating. Burial will be at Peru City Cemetery in Peru. Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 7:00 PM at the Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle with a rosary to be recited prior at 3:30 PM. Additional visitation will be in the church on Saturday from 10:00 AM until time of services.

Mary was born in Spring Valley on January 7, 1948 to John and Betty (Fusinatto) Chambers. She was a 1965 graduate of La Salle-Peru Township High School. She attended Illinois Valley Community College and then received her Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Education from Northern Illinois University. She was a member of Sigma Kappa. She married Michael Leone on December 19, 1970.

Mrs. Leone worked as a teacher for many years. Her teaching career began in Ottawa at the primary school then Central School in Peru. She taught Kindergarten at Roosevelt in Peru and retired from Northview in Peru as a fourth grade teacher. She was a fantastic teacher and treated her students like family, building emotional connections with them. Her family has been approached by many former students and even received cards and letters telling them she was their favorite teacher and that she made a lasting impression on their lives.

Mary was a member of St. Valentine’s Church. She loved to read and enjoyed luncheons and dinners with friends. She especially enjoyed her Friday night supper club with her husband and other couples. She looked forward to her yearly trip with the Ya-Ya Girls. Mary loved time spent with family. They would spend summers together at their cabin in Canada fishing, boating, and being together. She adored her grandchildren. Mary would be at all their activities, sports events, recitals, and school programs. No holiday was passed up without gifts for the grandchildren. They were her pride and joy.

Mary is survived by her husband Mike of Peru; two sons Dr. Doug (Dr. Adrienne Schupbach) Leone of Nixa, MO and Jason (Molly) Leone of Peru; seven grandchildren Elena, Adelyn, Zach, Arianna, Alessia, Christian, and Aliyah; niece Kristi (Jeremy) Pabian and their son Conner; brother-in-law Jim (Linda) Leone and their son Brian; and many cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Linda (Rich) Sarosinski, and a brother John in infancy.

Pallbearers will be Jeremy Pabian, Brian Leone, Ron Flohr, Rick Fusinatto, Barry Beruning, and Conner Pabian.

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

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