Mary Elizabeth Walden

Mary Elizabeth (Mary Beth) Walden, 57, of Hillsboro, formerly of Taylorville, left this life at 1:07 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2013.

She was the beloved daughter of Cecil G. and Helen L. (Crubaugh) Walden. Mary was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Taylorville, and was ministered to by St. Agnes Catholic Church in Hillsboro in recent years. She was a graduate of Taylorville High School and attended Blackburn College for three years where she majored in Literature. She did an internship in Mexico, a trip she loved and often talked about. She later worked for a few years for the State of Illinois.

She was a sweet, tender-hearted and wonderful person, who few people knew well due to her reclusiveness and physical disabilities. A victim of birth defects, Mary lived an active life until a failed engagement in young adulthood caused her to pull away from society, at which time her health began to suffer. She always loved everyone, caring more about others than herself. She was a blessing to those who looked beyond her appearance and her problems to listen to her heart. She will be sorely missed, but is now at home with the Lord, where she is receiving the love she so deserved. Mary loved God and enjoyed cats, music, reading and giving to others.

Survivors is survived by, sister, Rita (Gary) Briggs of Blue Mound, IL; nieces, Debi (Jeff) Heldman of Canonsburg, PA, Denise Gilliam of DuQuoin, IL, Donna Walden of Rockford, IL and Amy (Mark) Moore of Lynden, WA; nephews, Doug (Amanda) Briggs of Decatur, IL, Nick (Melissa) Briggs of Vandalia, IL and Stephen Briggs of Blue Mound, IL; seven great-nieces and five great-nephews; friends, Kellie Underwood and Mary Macek, both of Taylorville, who came to visit along with other friends and family whom she loved and thought of often; And her cherished roommate Natalie Mueller. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Norman Walden.

Funeral mass will be held on Monday, December 23, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Rev. Mariadas Chatla officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday one hour prior to services at the church.

In lieu of flowers or donations, spend time keeping your promises, visiting nursing home patients, getting to know and love those with disabilities and just trying to understand and appreciate someone unlike yourself. In doing so, you will honor the memory of our dear Mary.

Shafer-Perfetti Funeral Home in Taylorville is in charge of arrangements.