Mary Lou (nee Sweeney) Thouvenot, age 87 of Collinsville, IL, born July 9, 1935, in St. Louis, MO, passed away from COVID at her home on Friday, September 23, 2022, surrounded by her family.

Mary Lou was born in St. Louis, in what was known as Dutch Town (South St. Louis area).  She was a graduate of Notre Dame Academy, Class of 1953, and married the love of her life in 1955.  While raising five children, she returned to school and graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Louis University of Nursing Science.  There she earned her RN-BSN, a membership into the Jesuit Honor Society, and the Alpha Sigma Nursing Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau.  Mary Lou was an associate of Gateway Regional Medical Center (previously St. Elizabeth Hospital of Granite City, IL) for 39 years.  She was a member of SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church and Collinsville Women's Club.

Favorite past times were spent gardening, baking for her family, taking long walks, camping with her family, and reading.  What brought her the most joy as her life slowed down was mailing cards to her family and friends, and especially the smallest members of her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Thouvenot; her parents, John and Antoinette (nee Sehr) Sweeney; grandmother, Clara (nee Hillig) Sehr; a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Gary Harvell; a son-in-law, David Lipsey; two sisters and their spouses, Antoinette and Placido Lebron, Nancy and Herman Santa Cruz; a brother, Timothy Sweeney; and a nephew, Jerry Levingston.

Living to honor her memory are her three daughters, Mary Lipsey of Collinsville, IL, Debra (Robert) Muesenfechter of St. Charles, MO and Cheryl (Jeffrey) Barnett of Ballwin, MO; one son, Robert (Peggy) Thouvenot; nine grandchildren:  Angela (Ray) Tostado, Samantha Harvell, Mary (Mark) Gan, Mary (Anton III) Flieg, Alexander (Jamie) Muesenfechter, Gabrielle (Phillip) Kellermann, Nathaniel Muesenfechter, Aubrie and Corbin Barnett; 13 great-grandchildren:  Melisa, Marijo, Anton IV, Tessa, Samuel, Noah, Annie, Augusta Mae, Mark, Molly, William, Hastings, and Josephine Lou; one great-great grandson, Kenan; many nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Monday, October 3, 2022 at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 207 Vandalia, Collinsville, IL.

Funeral mass will be at 12 noon following the visitation with Father John Beveridge celebrant.  Private burial will be in SS Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery, Collinsville.

Memorials may be made in Mary Lou's honor to the Collinsville Food Pantry or SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church and will be received during the visitation or can be mailed to Barry Wilson Funeral Home, 2800 N. Center Street, Maryville, IL 62062.