Mary Ruth (Heil) Rusch 1940-2020

Mary Ruth (Heil) Rusch, 80, died Tuesday December 8, 2020. She leaves behind five daughters, Ruth Rusch, Laura Nitanda (Jim), Barbara Zeman (Mike), Karen De Zetter (Jim), and April Rusch (Jeremy Hodges); grandchildren Marie De Zetter, Anthony Zeman, and William Zeman; brother John Heil (Genevieve); sisters-in-law and good friends Norma Heil and Linda Heil; and nieces Kathleen Heil, Debbie Walter, Cindy Previte, and Lora Bundy.

Mary was born October 2, 1940 in Rocky Ford, Colorado to Scott and Nina Ruth (Dunaway) Heil. She graduated from Rocky Ford High School in 1958. She went to college in Emporia, KS before attending Cook County School of Nursing in Chicago, IL. While in nursing school she met and married her husband, Henry (Hank). They were married on March 11, 1961 on Hank’s 29th birthday. Mary graduated nursing school, a proud accomplishment, in 1962. In addition to having a long career in nursing, she was also a business owner. In the early 1980s she owned and ran the Fabric Corner in Peotone, IL. Later in life, she was known as the proprietor of Mad Mama’s Pies in Silverton, CO. The business received national recognition when it was featured in Rand McNally’s Best of the Road in 2006.

She and her husband loved taking road trips which Mary continued to do even after Hank’s death in 2017. She was an avid quilter making many quilts for those she loved. A favorite hobby was to stop at quilting shops on road trips. After living in the mountains in Durango, CO, Mary and Hank moved back to Chicago in 2013 to be near family. There she was a member of Martin Luther Church and kept busy with her quilting, baking, and various volunteer activities.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband Hank; parents; brothers Scott, Bill, and Jack; and nephews Larry, John David, and Tom.

Visitation will be Tuesday December 15th at 10:00 a.m. with services at 11:00 at Schielka Addison Street Funeral Home, 7710 W. Addison St, Chicago. Interment will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Homewood Memorial Gardens in Homewood, IL.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Cyprian Food Pantry, 6535 West Irving Park, Chicago, IL 60634.