Mary Cecilia Bellman

Mary Cecilia Bellman, 75, of Roanoke, IL passed away at 6:18 a.m. Friday, November 17, 2017, at Heritage Health in Minonk ,IL.

She was born January 30, 1942, the fourth child of Bernard and Ella Smith (nee Wallin). She attended Plainfield High School, graduating in 1960 and went to work for Kroger Foods for the next 35 years, retiring after being a supervisor/trainer for many of those years.

It was at Kroger that Mary met the love of her life, Harold Bellman; and they married on November 29, 1986. With that marriage, she instantly became the loving stepmother of Harold's adult children, Debbie (John) Lindsey, Steve (Danette) Bellman, and Janet (Mark) Tol. The family grew over the years with the addition of four grandchildren, Jennifer, Victoria, Joshua, and Jacob, all of whom Mary adored; and now the great‑grandchildren are arriving!

Mary and Harold, after careful planning, retired and became avid golfers wherever they could swing a club. Down in Florida, Mary acted as the starter and Harold was the ranger for their local club and they were unofficial supervisors, at the end of the day, at the 19th Hole!

Their retirement allowed them to spend time with their children and grandchildren in Florida, at 4‑H showings of cattle with Jake, and even watching Josh harvest wheat through middle America. They loved it!

Mary and Harold dearly loved their two beautiful granddaughters and were very instrumental in their lives as well.

Mary's parents, two older brothers (William and Robert), an infant sister (June), a niece (Renee Holder), and an infant nephew (Jacob) preceded her in death.

She is survived by her loving husband, Harold, her three stepchildren and their spouses, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; her sisters Judy (Jim) Teter and Barbara (Ben Barsema), and her brother John (Barbara); 17 nieces and nephews, countless great-nieces and great-nephews and, yes, even great‑greats! There are also dozens of cousins and innumerable friends across the country that will miss her terribly but are so thankful she was a part of their lives.

Mary did not want a funeral service and will be cremated, but there will be a Celebration of her Life (Memorial Service sounds too morbid for someone as fun as Mary) in the near future.

Anyone who knew Mary knew her selflessness, kindness of spirit, love of life and laughter. So you can almost hear her saying:

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work, to play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way,

I've found that peace at the close of the day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,

Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I've savored much,

Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch,

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me, God wanted me now, He set me free.