Mildred M Sebastian

MILDRED SEBASTIAN

JERSEYVILLE – Mildred Marie Sebastian, 93, passed away at 8:10 a.m., Saturday, July 13, 2024 at Jerseyville Manor.

She was born on March 23, 1931 in Hardin, Illinois and was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Hazelwonder) Gress.

Millie began her working career at the International Shoe Factory in Jerseyville and went on to work as a receptionist with the Curran-Gorman Real Estate Company in Jerseyville. Her true calling was caring for others, and she was able to do so for over 20 years operating an in-home daycare. Throughout the years, she cared for generations of families, and was lovingly referred to as “Grandma Millie” by many of them well into their adult lives.

Millie centered her life around two simple, yet profound principles: Faith and Family. Devout in her Catholic Faith, she volunteered countless hours as a member of the Altar Society at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville as well as serving as a volunteer in the lunch room and administering throat cultures at St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic School. Her family meant everything to her, and she loved nothing more than watching her family grow and relished every moment she was able to spend with them all.

She married Orville Taake, and together they were the parents of four children. She later married Larry Sebastian on September 1, 1970 in Carrollton, Illinois and their 40 year marriage consolidated two big families into one larger loving group.

Surviving are her children, Patricia Norris (Rick Hill) of Bethalto, Randall (Terri) Taake of Jerseyville, Gayla Taake of Livingston, Bradley (Jean) Taake of Jerseyville, Lori (Craig) Thurston of Jerseyville, Kelly (Bob) Manns of Jerseyville, Retired Major Christopher Sebastian of Chula Vista, California, LeAnne (Ron) Blue of Alton, Vivian (Terry) Vatole of Alton, Amy (Danny) Heitzig of Jerseyville, Wendy Sebastian of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Ellen Sebastian (David Duntley) of Juneau, Alaska; a daughter in-law, Nancy Sebastian of Nokomis; 38 grandchildren; 72 great grandchildren; a sister, Loretta Droege of Jerseyville; as well as a sister in-law, Rose Sebastian of Brighton.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Sebastian; a son, John Sebastian; two sons in-law, Virgil Allen and Mike Norris; two grandsons, Shane Allen and Shawn Sullivan; a great grandson, Christian Cazier; seven siblings, Theresa Burris, John Gress, Florence Sanders, Louis Gress, Alfred Gress, Joseph Gress and Glenn Gress; as well as a brother in-law, Dwight Sebastian.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Thursday, at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville with Father Martin Smith officiating.

Burial will follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Jerseyville.

Memorials may be given to St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic School, in care of the funeral home.

Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com

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