Mary Jo (Aubry) Fairbanks

OTTAWA – Mary Jo Fairbanks, age 92, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 2 ^nd at St. Patrick Catholic Church with the Rev. Michael Adrie celebrating.  Interment will follow in St. Columba Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Gladfelter Funeral Home.  Pallbearers will be Robert Piombino, Jordan McLachlan, Dan and Doug Hertzner, Andy Briel, Sam Rosenthal, Ken Mazurowski and Chris Durbin.  Honorary Pallbearers will be John McLachlan and Joe Piombino.

Mary Jo was born November 9, 1920 in Ottawa, Illinois, a daughter of Edward and Josephine (Schiffgens) Aubry.  On November 29, 1941 she married Jack Douglas Fairbanks, who was a local painting contractor, at St. Patrick Church in Ottawa.  Jack preceded her in death June 2, 2002.  Mary Jo is survived by her children, Janet Makowski of Oak Brook, Donna Hertzner of Ottawa, Linda (John) McLachlan of Ottawa, Debbie (Joe) Piombino of Wheaton and Marty (Ricky) Fairbanks of Batavia.  She also leaves grandchildren, Jennifer Briel, Jacqueline Rosenthal, Douglas Hertzner, Br. John Joseph Hertzner, Shannon Fairbanks Persinger, Nicole Durbin, Danielle Mazurowski, Kristin, Kaitlin and Robert Piombino and Jordan McLachlan; great-grandchildren, Miranda, Angela and David Persinger, Anthony and Christian Durbin, Loretta Rosenthal and Imogen Hertzner; and a niece, Bonnie (Larry) Mayhall of Ottawa.  Along with her husband, Mary Jo was preceded in death by her brother, Edward Aubry and a son-in-law, Richard Hertzner.

Mary Jo was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ottawa and the Altar and Rosary Society.  She was a member of the Catholic Daughters for over seventy years.  Mary Jo was a 1938 graduate of Marquette High School.  She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and treasured time spent with her family.  In her leisure time, Mary Jo enjoyed roses, dancing, playing golf, sewing, baking, doing craft projects and decorating.  Memorial contributions may be directed to Marquette High School or to the donor’s choice.