Mary Parker Woodruff

Mary Parker Woodruff, 98, passed away early Tuesday morning, March 4, 2008 at Friendship Home in Carlinville, Illinois. She was born March 2, 1910 to Doctor Edmund Hunter Parker and Doctor Nellie Lowe Parker. She was preceded in death by her brothers John Lowe Parker, Keith Parker, and Kenneth Parker, sisters Alice Thiel and Ruth Schueler; husband William Verness Woodruff and husband Russell Smith Woodruff; and her son William Hartwell Woodruff.

Survivors include her son, John A. (Judy) Woodruff of rural Pleasant Plains, grandchildren Julia (Jesse) Chang of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, James (Merry) Woodruff of San Diego, California, William (Caitlyn) Woodruff of San Francisco, California, Elizabeth (Robert) Paton of Collierville, Tennessee, Matthew Woodruff of the United States Navy, Megan Woodruff of Aurora, Illinois, daughter-in-law Judy Barr Woodruff of Aurora, Illinois, close family friend, Mr. Mark Kaiser of Carlinville, twelve great-grandchildren, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Mary was a 1930 graduate of Saint John's School of Nursing in Springfield, Illinois. Her career included Director of Nursing at The Macoupin County Nursing Home and staff positions at both St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield and Carlinville Area Hospital. She retired after 42 years in nursing to enjoy traveling and stamp collecting.

Mary and Verness were the first couple married in Blessed Sacrament Church in Springfield. She was instrumental in establishing Girl Scouting in Macoupin County and in medical training for young women during World War II. She was a member of SS. Mary and Joseph church and the Macoupin County Chapter of the DAR. Funeral Information

Visitation will be held at Davis-Anderson Funeral Home in Carlinville from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at Ss. Mary & Joseph Catholic Church in Carlinville. Donations Information

Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to Catholic Charities in Carlinville.