Mary Lou Langen

Mary Lou Langen, 94, of Morrisonville, passed away Sunday, April 13, 2025, at Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center.

Mary Lou was born October 23, 1930, in Raymond, IL, the daughter of Joseph and Louise (Guttenberg) Held.  She graduated from Raymond High School and went on to attend St. John’s School of Nursing where she received her RN degree.

On April 16,1953 she married John L. Langen.  Together they had seven children and operated on what would become Langen Farms in Morrisonville.   She worked at St. Vincent Memorial Hospital as in RN in Taylorville for a few years then decided to stay at home while raising 7 children.  When the youngest child started school, she went back and took a refresher course and worked the night shift as a nurse so she would be at home in the mornings before her children went to school.  She retired at age 70.

Mary Lou attended St Maurice Catholic Church in Morrisonville and was a member of the National Catholic Society of Foresters and the Altar and Rosary Society.  In her spare time, she enjoyed knitting and working on numerous puzzles.  She also enjoyed gardening, being outside planting and watering flowers and pulling weeds.  She knitted Afghans for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband, John L. Langen; her parents, Joseph and Louise Held; her brothers, Lawrence J. (Tuffy) Held, Joseph “Skeeter” Held, Jr, Harold Held, and Raymond “Daisy” Held.  She is survived by her children, Jim (Kabra) of Mt. Zion, Diane of O’Fallon, MO, Joe of Clarksville, IN, Larry (Susan) of Morrisonville, Marilyn (Ed) Hughes of Taylorville, Mark and John of Morrisonville.  In addition, she is survived by her sister-in-law, Lucille Langen; grandchildren:  Kristina “Kristy” (Marcus) Raymond, Lisa (Nick) Gudino, Ashley Langen, Jenny (Tim) Bethard, Maggie (Evan) Kline, Miranda (Hunter) McKown, Marcy Langen, Stephanie  Diehl, and Amanda (Will) Peabody; her great-grandchildren:  Evie, Walter, Lucella, Kacie, Chase, Kailyn, Emerson, Elliot, Kierstyn, Bryan, Claire, and Gavin; as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family will receive family and friends at St Maurice Catholic Church in Morrisonville on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  A funeral mass will follow visitation at the church.  Burial will follow mass at St Maurice Catholic Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, St. Maurice Catholic Church, or to the American Heart Association.