Mary Mini Obituary

Mary Ellen Mini

Born: April 25, 1940

Died: May 28, 2015

Mary Ellen Mini (Manning), 75, beloved sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home, in Naples, Florida on Thursday, May 28.

Mary Ellen was born in Spring Valley, Illinois, on April 25, 1940, to Martin Arthur and Margaret June Bonges Manning. She grew up in Ladd, Illinois, and graduated from Hall Township High School in 1958. Mary Ellen then attended the University of Illinois, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

In 1962, Mary Ellen married her childhood sweetheart James Mini of Dalzell, Illinois. The couple settled in Oak Park, Illinois, where they had her first three children and Jim obtained his medical degree. In 1968, they moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where Jim served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force and Mary Ellen gave birth to two more daughters. In 1970, they finally settled in Wheaton, Illinois, where their last daughter was born and Jim began a 33-year career as a pediatrician at the Glen Ellyn Clinic. In 2002, Jim and Mary Ellen retired full-time to Naples, Florida.

Mary Ellen was active supporter of all her children's activities throughout their school years-serving as PTA Council President of the Wheaton Warrenville School District 200. She was always on the sidelines cheering at her children's track and field, volleyball, basketball, and show choir events. During the summer, she was scorekeeper at their swimming and diving meets. Her competitive spirit and mathematical skills shone as secretary to her ladies bowling league in Wheaton.

For more than three decades, Mary Ellen was a talented competitive golfer in Wheaton and Naples winning numerous tournaments. In 2003, she obtained a 117-yard hole-in-one. Her greatest battle began on September 11, 2000, when she was diagnosed with Nonspecific Interstitial Pneumonitis. Her great legacy was her sacrifice and selfless love for her husband, children and grandchildren-a legacy which lives on in her loving son and daughters.

She was preceded in death by father, Martin in 1970; and mother, Margaret in 2011.

She is survived by her sisters, Kathy (Walter) Clements and Margaret Ann (John) Jacoby; and brother, Martin Manning. She is survived by her six children, John Mini (Robert Perri), Cathy (Peter) Hetrick, Michele (Nick) Dalmaso, Colleen (John) Emery, Lisa (Tim) Dalton, and Maria Mini, who served as her loving caregiver during the final stages of Mary Ellen's battle with lung disease. Mary Ellen is survived by 16 grandchildren, Lauren (Tim) Kurtzweill, Matt and Allie Hetrick; Danny, Dominic, David and Dante Dalmaso; Ellen, Jack, and Sarah Emery; Maggie, Katie and Jimmy Dalton; Jessica, Brad and Emily Weise.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 3, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., at Fuller Funeral Home, 1625 Pine Ridge Road in Naples, Florida. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Rd. in Naples on Thursday, June 4, at 1:00 p.m. A private internment service will be held in Wheaton, Illinois in August.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to St. Bede Academy/Abbey, 24 W. US Hwy 6, Peru, IL 61354.