Mary C. Markus, 89, of Breese, IL died on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at St. Joseph Hospital in Breese. Mrs. Markus was born on June 8, 1916 in St. Rose, IL daughter of Ben & Anna (Tebbe) Rehkemper. She married Gregory F. Markus on May 22, 1946 in St. Rose and he preceded her in death on January 1, 1986. She is survived by two sons, Marvin J. "Moto" Markus of LaVergne, TN & Ronald F. "Junior" Markus and fiancée, Marla Trone of Breese; two daughters, Patricia C. Suydam and husband Jon of Lebanon, and Judith A Greene of Shiloh; three grandchildren, Gregg R. Suydam, Curtis V. Suydam and G. Dylan Markus; a great-granddaughter, Brianna M. Suydam; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Josephine Rehkemper of St. Rose, Rose Rehkemper of St. Rose, Rose Markus of Aviston, Delores Markus of Waterloo, Alfred & Rita Markus of Royal Oak, Mich., and Cyril "Tuffy" & Edna Markus of Breese; and numerous nephews, nieces, and great nephews and great nieces.

In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Frank Rehkemper, August Rehkemper, Victor Rehkemper, & Ben Rehkemper; three sisters, Clara Wilke, Alvina Schwierjohn and Anna Hilmes; brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Rose Rehkemper, Bernette Rehkemper, Bill Wilke, Joe Schwierjohn, Al Hilmes, John & Catherine Markus, Paul & Marcella Richter, Hubert Markus, Camillus Markus and Rosina Markus; and an adopted granddaughter, Aimee Trone. Mrs. Markus was a homemaker and also worked in the Housekeeping Department at St. Joseph Hospital in Breese. She was a member of St. Augustine Parish and Altar Sodality, Daughters of Isabella Circle 718, American Legion Post 252 Auxiliary, Trenton VFW Post 7983 Auxiliary, St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary and Breese Senior Citizens.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 13, 2006 at St. Augustine Church in Breese, with Rev. Lou Koehr and Deacon Bob Lippert officiating. Interment will follow at St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery in Breese. Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday, January 12, 2006 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Friday, January 13, 2006 at Hempen Funeral Home in Breese. The American Legion Auxiliary will visit the funeral home at 7 p.m. on Thursday followed immediately by the D of I rosary and the VFW Auxiliary will visit at 7:30. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Research, Clinton County Relay For Life or for Masses and will be received at the funeral home.