Mary Ziegler

Mary Beth Ziegler, 38, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2006, in her home.

She was born Oct. 28, 1967, in Perryville, Mo., daughter of Frank and Bettilee Cook Emmendorfer. She and Rick Ziegler were married July 11, 1992.

Mary was a 1986 graduate of Notre Dame High School. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri, and a master's degree in elementary education from Southeast Missouri State University.

Mary began her teaching career at Christian School for the Young Years in Cape Girardeau. She also taught at St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School in Cape Girardeau, Orchard Elementary and North Elementary, both in the Jackson School District.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson.

Mary exemplified the spirit of volunteerism. She volunteered for numerous organizations that were dear to her heart including Immaculate Conception Catholic School and Church, and the American Cancer Society by serving on the steering committee for Relay for Life.

Mary's faith for Jesus Christ, the son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was very strong. She expressed her devotion by visiting Our Lady's Shrine and grotto in Perryville, and many other locations. Her most special visit was a pilgrimage to Medugorje in Bosnia with a group from the USA.

Loving survivors include her husband; two daughters, Allison and Anna of the home; her parents, of Cape Girardeau; four brothers, Dan (Joyce) Emmendorfer of Cape Girardeau, Mark Emmendorfer of Dallas, Texas, Paul (Beth) Emmendorfer of Jackson, and Matthew (Elizabeth) Emmendorfer of Cranberry Township, Pa.; a sister, Marcia (John) Thompson of Jackson; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jerome and Berniece Ziegler of Jackson; three sisters-in-law, Becky (Mike) Kirby of Jackson, Tammy (David) VanGennip of Advance, Mo., and Nancy (Brian) Greaser of Cape Girardeau.

She was preceded in death by an infant son, Ricky.

Friends may call today from 4 to 9 p.m. at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. Parish prayers will be at 5, followed by the rosary which will be led by St. Ann's Sodality.

Funeral Mass will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Kevin Fausz officiating. Interment will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.