A funeral will be held Friday, September 12, 2025 for 90-year-old Marie E. Hess of Red Bud, Illinois, who passed away at 10 a.m., Sunday, September 7, 2025, at the Garden Place in Red Bud, Illinois.
She was born July 19, 1935 in Waterloo, Ill. to Jacob and Frances (nee Eschmann) Schaefer, who both preceded her in death.
Marie married Donald Hess on July 24, 1954, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, Illinois; he preceded her in death on December 19, 1987.
She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, Illinois, the Moose Lodge No. 1221 in Swansea, Red Bud Senior Circle, Red Hat Ladies, and Red Bud Women’s Club. She enjoyed quilting and was a member of the quilting group at church.
Marie was a master seamstress and could sew anything from jeans to suits. She made all her daughter-in-law’s wedding dresses, made countless bridesmaid dresses, and tuxedos for ring bearers.
She is survived by four children: Steven F. (Dianna) Hess of Evansville, Ill., Stan (Cathy) Hess of Evansville, Jeff (Lynda) Hess of Sparta, Ill., and Donna Hess of Ruma, Ill.; a brother: Martin Schaefer of Red Bud; three sisters-in-law: Martha Schaefer of Evansville, Julie Schaefer of Ellis Grove, Ill. and
Dot Schaefer of Sparta; 10 grandchildren: Tom Hess (Kallie Fain), Angela (Tommy) Craig, Amy (Ethan) Buch, Derrick Hess (Fiancee Amanda Zalders), Darren(Elizabeth) Hess, Ashley (Jeremy) Pickering, Elizabeth (Clinton) Bert, Alex (Anna) Hess, Kyle (Melaina) Hess, and Brady (Gabby) Hess, 26 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was also preceded in death by 10 siblings: Henry Schaefer, Gertrude (Leo) Pautler, Clarence (Joan) Schaefer, Regina (Bob) Scherle, Frances (Norman) Rahn, Albert (Joyce) Schaefer, Robert Schaefer, Willie Schaefer, Josephine (Victor) Smith, and Teresa Schaefer, and a sister-in-law: Jeanette Schaefer.
Marie had worked at International Shoe Company in Evansville, Illinois, Wiegmann in Freeburg, Illinois, and was retired from Climate Control in Red Bud, Illinois.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday, September 11, 2025 at the Pechacek Funeral Homes in Red Bud, and 9-10 a.m. Friday, September 12, 2025 at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud.
A funeral mass for 90-year-old Marie E. Hess of Red Bud will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, September 12, 2025 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Red Bud. Officiating: Fr. Iuvenius Iheme.
Interment will be in the St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Ruma.
Memorials may be made to the St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Red Bud.