Mary Ann Groom

MARY ANN GROOM , 80, life time resident of Red Bud and Belleville, Illinois, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away at Mercy Hospital South, St Louis, Missouri. At the time of her death, she was surrounded by her beloved husband and daughters.

Throughout Mary Ann’s stages of life, she was a devout Catholic and a firm believer in the power of God. Mary Ann personified goodness and radiated joy in the following roles: obedient daughter, loving wife, devoted mother, ambitious Girl Scout leader, determined student, dedicated teacher, proud grandmother, eager traveler, and willing volunteer.

As a young couple, Mary Ann supported Dennis’s educational goals to become a veterinarian & helped him build the Ambassador Veterinary Clinic in Belleville, IL. Along with raising four children, Mary Ann was actively involved in the PTA, Girl Scouts, and St. Henry Catholic Church in Belleville until she moved to Red Bud in 1986. Education was incredibly important to Mary Ann. She graduated from McKendree College with a teaching degree in 1989. Mary Ann spent 16 years teaching first grade at St. Joseph Catholic School in Freeburg. During her retirement, Mary Ann was a substitute teacher at St. John the Baptist School, a volunteer at the local care center, and a Eucharistic Minister. From 1986 to 2021, Mary Ann was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, IL

Mary Ann treasured her family and spent many hours traveling to Chicago, Minnesota, and Colorado to partake in the milestones and festivities of her children and grandchildren. Mary Ann enjoyed baking, gardening, reading, traveling, nurturing her “feathered friends” and spending time talking with friends and loved ones.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband of 61 years, Dennis Groom; daughters, Eva Groom, Deanna (Randall) Konstans, Brenda (James) Bettcher; grandchildren, Bennett Konstans, Mallory Konstans, Nathan Medina, Olivia Medina, Leah Bettcher and David Bettcher; plus, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents Irvin and Mae Polanek, brothers Richard (Rosemary) Polanek, Paul Polanek, and Chester Polanek, as well as one granddaughter, Natalie Mae Bettcher.

Visitation will be at the Pechacek Funeral Home in Red, Bud, IL on Tuesday, June 8th from 9:30am-11:30am. A Memorial Mass will follow at 12:00 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, IL. Msgr. Dennis Schaefer will officiate. For those who are able to attend, it is Mary Ann’s wish that everyone wears a shade of blue, her favorite color. It was also Mary Ann’s wish to be cremated.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Mary Ann’s memory to St. Joseph Catholic School of Freeburg, IL or St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Red Bud, IL.