Mary A Finch

Mary Anne Finch, 81, of Preemption, IL died on Monday, April 15, 2024 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, IA. There will be a private family graveside service at Preemption Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

She was the fourth child of eight and the first to be born in the hospital to Frank and Mary (Pedigo) Armstrong of Monmouth. She was the only fair head and blue eyes in the family.

She was raised and educated in Monmouth schools. She attended the First Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and was President of the youth club.

She married the love of her life, Gary Finch, of Roseville on October 30, 1959 and they were married until his passing on April 16, 2019. Their love lasted 60 years and both lived as they believed in N.E.T which was their motto meaning “Never Enough Time.” They honestly believed no one could have a marriage with more love than they shared. God blessed them with four children, Mary Elizabeth, Gary Jr., Sean, and Timothy.

Mary was lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mother. She was considered an excellent housekeeper and cook. She loved giving great parties.

Her hobbies were coin collecting, knitting and crochet. She made hundreds of afghans for friends and family. She made 17 in one year alone.

Mary enjoyed making flower arrangements for her home and friends. Most of all, she loved to write- she decided she should write her memories as really your children don’t know you back when you were a child. She loved writing her Christmas letters. She was always writing down a “saying” she would come across and kept a list of them and used them later.

Losing her husband was the worst time in her life, she reached some very dark places and only memories of him brought her through.

She enjoyed all the different events of her boys, never missing them and then her husband started running. She was there for all his races including the Boston Marathon.

The things that pleased her the most was when one of her “men” would walk into a room. They all had her love and she was truly blessed with their love and she truly enjoyed her life when she was with them.

Most of all, she is now with her husband again, where she is meant to be.

Those who are left are her three sons and their families. She loved them all. Also, her sister, Gwen, who she called “Ginnie.”

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Mary Elizabeth; her siblings, Frankie, Johnny, Betty Jody, Helen, and Ellen.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Milan. To leave condolences for the family, visit www.wheelanpressly.com.

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