Mary M. Rice, age 99, of Collinsville, Illinois, died on July 18, 2021 at Liberty Village in Maryville, Illinois.

She worked for the Unit #10 School district as a cafeteria worker, health aide, and became the first female custodian in the district.  She was a lifetime member and volunteer at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Collinsville. She was a volunteer at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Illinois for 20 years, was a Girl Scout troop leader, and led March of Dimes fundraising drives for many years.  She was a poll worker for decades in Madison County. Mary loved to travel and enjoyed visiting areas in the United States and Italy. She was very proud to have lived independently until early 2021.

She was born in Higbee, Missouri on April 23, 1922 to Ignazio and Maria ( nee Banche Famiglio) Ceresero. Her family moved to Collinsville when she was 2 years old where she lived for the rest of her life. Mary was preceded in death by her husband John A. Rice, Sr.; her parents; her five nee Ceresero sisters: Madeline Weil, Rose Cooper, Louise Piel, Angelina Ceresero, and Christine DeBaets; and grandson, Joseph Tilden.

She is survived by her three children, John A. Rice, Jr. of Collinsville, Kathleen L. Rice (Raymond Tilden) of Collinsville, and Wanda L. Rice of Longmont, Colorado. Six grandchildren, multiple great grandchildren, multiple great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. They will all miss her unconditional love, her wonderful sense of humor, her strong will, ravioli, and bagna cauda.

Visitation will be 10 – 11 a.m. on Monday, August 2, 2021 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Collinsville with funeral mass to follow at 11 a.m. with Fr. John Beveridge celebrant. Social distancing will be followed and the family requests that face masks be worn by any attendees who have not had a COVID vaccination.  Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery, Fairview Heights.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Hospital for Children, or SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and will be received at the visitation or can be mailed to the funeral home at 2800 N. Center Street, Maryville, IL 62062.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at barrywilsonfuneralhome.com