Mary Sylvia Parish's Obituary
Mary Sylvia Parish died Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at her home in rural Decatur.
Mary was born March 29, 1924, to Fred and Ora (Beals) Anderson in Big Spring Township, Shelby County. She attended Wabash and Zolman schools and graduated from Stewardson High School in 1942. After attending the University of Illinois for one year, she taught at Keystone, a one room school, on an emergency war-time teaching certificate. As a university student she had her own program on WILL radio on which she sang light classics. After college graduation in 1947, she taught music and physical education at Orion, Illinois.
Mary married James Henry Parish on July 18, 1948, and they lived at their Harristown farm. He preceded her in death on March 17, 1998. Mary was a member of Harristown Christian Church, where she was organist, choir director, and soloist. She volunteered at Harristown Grade School and was on the board of directors of the Decatur Arts Council in 1969. She was a member of the Stewardson Sewing Circle and Sigma Alpha Iota.
Mary was a lifelong musician and an avid reader, letter writer, and family historian. She whittled walking sticks and enjoyed taking drives through the countryside. Throughout the years, Prairie Mary hosted weekend campfires, Halloween and stargazing parties, and pie fests for her loving family.
Mary and James raised seven children, all of whom, along with her grandchildren, survive her: Darrel Parish and Joanna of Decatur, their children Ann and Jeff Rosengren, daughter Greta of Chicago; Lewis and Chansonetta Parish of Djibouti City, Djibouti, Africa; Sylvia O'Connor, her daughter, Ellen of Janesville, Wisconsin; Catherine Parish of Rantoul; Martha Parish and husband Hossein Fini of Decatur, their children Elham, Amin, Elva, Amir, and Melika Fini; Carmen and John Dunn, their children Robert, Catherine, Henry, and Elizabeth of Niantic; Faraba Parish of Champaign; and Barry Parish of Decatur. She also leaves sisters-in-law Lois Anderson and Lois Brown, special family friend Peg Pisel, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Joe Anderson and her sister Faraba Shirley.
The Parishes extend thanks to the DMH Home Care staff and especially to Diane and Tina for their tender care.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm, Friday, August 31, 2012 in the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home. A memorial service celebrating her life will be 11 am Saturday, September 1, 2012 in the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date in Harristown Cemetery. Memorials may be made to: Harristown Elementary School Library.
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