Mary Jane Lampen

Mary Jane Lampen, 91, a devoted and loving mother, wife, sister, aunt, grandmother and friend, passed away at her home in Carlyle, IL on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Mary Jane was born on January 6, 1924 to Otto and Frances (Holtgrave) Markus. Raised in Breese, IL, she was born the third child in a family that grew to eleven children. She married Edward Lampen on January 6, 1954 at St. Dominic’s Church in Breese and he preceded her in death on October 6, 2012.
She is survived by her three loving children: Joseph Lampen and wife Paula (Sheedy) of St. Louis, Chris Morrison and husband Scott of Mundelein, IL, and Kathryn Reising and husband Craig of Carlyle, IL; seven grandchildren: Sarah and Claire Lampen, Jeff and Tracey Morrison, and Lauren, Madeline and Faith Reising; her siblings: Alice Niebur, Rose Huber and husband Ken, RuthAnne Geiseler and husband Dan, and Tom Markus and wife Ann; brother-in-law: John Lampen; sister-in-law: Terry Markus; and many nieces and nephews.
Mary Jane was preceded in death by her husband: Edward Lampen; her infant daughter: Angela Lampen; her parents: Otto and Frances Markus; siblings: Valeria Markus, Bob Markus, Ralph Markus and wife Marie, Joe Markus, and Jean Janner and husband Frank; mother-in-law and father-in-law: Mary and Joseph Lampen; sisters-in-law: Sr. Joel Lampen, Mary M. “Sis” Meyer and husband Gus, and Jane Lampen; and brother-in-law: Stan Niebur.
Mary Jane moved to Chicago, IL at age 16 to attend high school at Josephinum Academy after the sudden death of her father, Otto. There she lived and worked to help support her family. After graduating high school, Mary Jane moved to St. Louis where she worked as a bookkeeper at St. mary’s Hospital and Pet Milk. Upon marrying Edward Lampen, Mary Jane moved to Carlyle where she raised three children and helped as a bookkeeper and consultant for the family’s men’s apparel shop – Lampen’s Clothing Store. She enjoyed reading, gardening, fashion, decorating, travel and humor. She was a wonderful friend and role model and will be missed greatly by many.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, March 13, 2015 at 10:00 AM at St. Mary Church in Carlyle with Fr. George Mauck officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her husband in St. Mary Cemetery.
Friends may visit with the family at the Frerker Funeral Home in Carlyle on Thursday from 6 to 8:00 PM or on Friday from 8 to 9:30 AM.
For those wishing to honor Mrs. Lampen with a memorial gift, the family suggests St. mary Church, Mater Dei Catholic High School or to the charity of the donor’s choice and those will be received at the Frerker Funeral Home which is serving the family.