Mary Jane Kern

Mary Jane Kern, 94, of Springfield, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 at Villa East in Sherman, IL. She was loved, admired, respected and will be missed by many after her 94 years on this earth. She was a dedicated friend, tireless volunteer, accomplished seamstress, Master Gardener, and amazing pie maker. Born on Aug. 30, 1926 to Wilmont and Nancy Lane Anderson on the family farm in Cass County Illinois, she was the third of seven children. After graduating from Chandlerville High School, she moved to Springfield and began her career at Franklin Life Insurance Company. She met Russell Kern, the love of her life, shortly after he returned from serving in the Army in World War II and they married in December 1948, welcoming their only child, Marilyn, in 1950.

In 1955 she started a 23 year career with the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois. During those years, Mary was actively involved as a Sunday School teacher, Brownie and Girl Scout leader, 4-H leader, and seamstress for 10 years worth of dance recitals. She also found time to participate in the local Homemakers group and in 1984 completed training as a Master Gardener. She was recognized later as the longest active Master Gardener in Illinois history.

When Grandchildren started arriving in Texas, she and Russ bought a travel trailer and spent winters in Texas to be close to them. That was both a very happy and memorable time in their lives, but also brought the unfortunate diagnosis of Russ’s leukemia. For the next 9 years they traveled when they could, spending precious time watching their grandchildren grow. When Russ lost his battle with cancer in 1988, she returned to her volunteering and a schedule of gardening in the warm months and sewing in the cold months. A gardening story that always made the grandkids giggle was when she became a licensed trapper in order to use a live trap to remove the raccoons that were constantly eating all her vegetables in the garden. She also worked for a number of years for the Illinois Department of Agriculture, helping to gather data about farmers and farming across the state. One of her favorite projects as a Master Gardener was doing gardening activities for the residents of St Joseph’s Home. She and friends and family traveled many miles across many states searching for any and all fabric and quilting stores because “she who dies with the most fabric wins”! Her numerous remarkable quilts are cherished treasures for her family. Mary continued to travel to Texas to spend time with family and taught her grandsons to make pie crust and homemade noodles. She was there for graduations and weddings, sending a grandson off to war, beach vacations with the entire clan, welcoming her first great granddaughter, Madeline and eventually six more great grandchildren.

After years of amazing health she began to exhibit some health issues. Not being able to climb the ladder to clean the gutters, use the chainsaw to cut up a downed limb, or spend from dawn to dusk working in the garden and flower beds in her 90’s was very disappointing and frankly, just not acceptable to her. Since August a series of strokes continued to affect her health and required staying at a rehab facility and the requisite quarantine. Her granddaughter summed it up best “My beautiful, independent and strong as a horse Grandma left this world this morning to join my Grandpa”. Left to cherish all the great memories are daughter Marilyn Kern Woody of Houston; former son in law John Woody of Elgin Texas; Grandson Aaron Woody, wife Lauren Dubose Woody and Cora, Cameron and Cole of Cypress, Texas; Grandson Ryan Woody, wife Katherine Matherly Woody and Ayden, Devan and Sophia of Yulee, Florida; Granddaughter Elizabeth Woody and TJ Berry and Madeline of Bryan, Texas.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bisch Funeral Home West, Springfield. A private family service will be held. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

The family is extremely grateful for all the help and support shown over the years by Mary’s legions of friends and remarkable neighbors. The staff at The Villas East cared for her with love. She won their hearts as she did ours. We plan to celebrate her life when it is once again safe to gather together. For those wishing to remember Mary by gifting to her favorite causes: Master Gardener Program, University of Illinois Extension, 700 South Airport Rd, Springfield, IL 62702 or Capitol Unit Homemakers, Scholarship Fund, 700 South Airport Rd, Springfield, IL 62707.