Biography

Mary Caroline Benko, age 88, of Peoria, Illinois passed away on Saturday, February 27, 2010 OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Mary was born on October 20, 1921 in Rutland, Illinois to Oscar L. and Hazel M. (Marshall) Weppler. She married John H. Benko Jr. in February of 1945 in Rutland, Illinois. He preceded her in death on April 24, 1972.

Mary is survived by one daughter, Sharon (Leslie) Maylum of Dayton, Ohio; one son, John (Joyce) Benko III of Denver, Colorado; eight grandchildren, Amy (Jeff) Stedman of Deer Creek, Illinois, Michelle (Shane) Meinders of Williamsfield, Illinois, Heather (David) Kimberlin of Moraine, Ohio, Mimi (Tom) McFaul of Denver, Colorado, Chip Windsor of Havana, Illinois, Seth Bradley of Chicago, Illinois, Michael (Debi) Maylum of Oceanside, California, and Timothy (Megan) Maylum of Bettendorf, Iowa; 19 great-grandchildren; four great great-grandchildren; two brothers, Kenneth Weppler of Urbana, Illinois and Dale Weppler of Long Point, Illinois; and two sisters, Dorothy Cusac of Toluca, Illinois and Bonnie (Don) Sparks of Streater, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, William Weppler; one great-grandson, Austin; one niece, Judy; and one nephew, Scott.

Mary was a homemaker in her own home and she worked as a salesperson with Brown’s Sporting Goods in Peoria. Mary enjoyed camping, fishing, puzzles, and bird watching.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 10am at Cumerford-Hurd Funeral Home, 428 W. McClure Ave., Peoria, IL 61604. Rev. Dr. D. Dean Follis will be officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 from 5pm to 8pm also at Cumerford-Hurd Funeral Home. Burial will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Susan G. Koman Foundation.