Mary Frances Lavin

Mary Frances Lavin, 75, passed away at St. John's Hospice on Thursday, June 10, 2010, following a short illness. Mary Frances was born at St. Johns on June 28, 1934 to Luke and Frances Cain Lavin. She graduated from Ursuline Child Garden, St. Joseph School, and Ursuline Academy, and went on to receive her Associate of Arts degree from Springfield Junior College in 1954, her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois in 1956 and her Master of Education degree from the University of Illinois in 1962. She did post graduate work at the Universities of Hawaii, Virginia, Illinois State, Western and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and Edwardsville. She taught 34 years in the Springfield School District 186 at Fairview and Dubois elementary schools, at George Washington Junior High and Lanphier High School. After retiring from the school district, she substitute taught five years at Ursuline Academy and for a year at Sacred Heart Griffin High School. She volunteered at the Old State Capitol from 1993-2009. She was a past president of Lambda Chapter and life member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society. Mary Fran also was a past Senior Preceptress of Delta Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi and a past president of the Altrusa Club of Springfield. She was a life member of the Land of Lincoln and the Illinois State Retired Teachers Associations, a member of the Springfield Area Retired Teachers Club and a life member of the Sangamon County Historical Society. Mary Fran was a member of the Brinkerhoff Home Auxiliary and St. Louise de Marillac Guild. She was a former member in the St. Joseph's Guild, St. Joseph's Parish Pastoral Council, Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the board of Church Women United. She was a member of Lincoln Library Board of Trustees from 1981 to 1999. She was a member of Court Madonna #148 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas since 1953, having served in most of the local court offices and as its Education Chairman several times. She was elected to several of the state offices including State Regent from 1996-2000. Her hobbies included worldwide travel, vacationing with family, gardening, cooking and playing bridge and pinochle. Mary Fran was preceded in death by her sister, Patricia (Thomas) Evanich and is survived by her sister, Catherine (Bruce) Locher, three nephews, four nieces, two great nieces and four great nephews. Family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, June 13th at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service at 4 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, June 14th at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, 1345 N. 6th St., Springfield with Rev. Robert Jallas, celebrant. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Breadline, 430 N. 5th Street, Springfield, IL 62702