Mary Elizabeth Banta died Dec. 17, 2017, at Cedar Ridge Health Care Center in Lebanon, Ill. She served more than 40 years as a Licensed Practical Nurse at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville. Mary was born May 18, 1939 in St. Louis, a daughter of Edwin and Katherine, nee Staus, Banta. She is survived by a brother William E (Nancy) Banta, nieces and nephews, David (Jennifer) Banta, Kenneth Banta and Amy Banta; great-nieces and nephews Ian, Alice, Helen, Charlotte and Linus; and special friends Janet and Danny Witt and Patty. Besides her parents Mary was preceded in death by a sister Charlotte Banta, beloved cousin Marjorie Seigler, and Frazier the Cat. A funeral service will be held at 2 pm Wednesday, Dec. 20, at Valhalla Funera Home, 3412 Frank Scott Parkway West, Belleville. Interment will follow in Valhalla Garden of Memory. Visitation is from 1 pm until time of service. Memorial donations are suggested to Signal Hill Lutheran Church or VITAS hospice.