Mary Louise (Nave) Curry, 99, slipped her mortal coil at 12:05 pm on November 29, 2025. A lifelong resident of Rochester, IL, she married Dale Curry in 1951. Mary Louise was predeceased by her husband Dale and daughter Patty. She is survived by sons Danny (Pat) Curry, Charles (Beth) Curry, and daughter Kathleen Curry. She is also survived by grandsons Brian (Kristine) Curry and Dr. John Curry, along with great grandchildren Hayden and Addison Curry.

Upon graduating with a bachelors degree in English from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Mary Louise taught briefly at Riverton, IL. After her husband’s untimely death in a farm accident, she returned to teaching, this time in the Rochester School District, with most of her career spent teaching third grade.

Mary Louise was a past member of the Springfield Garden Club, Sangamon County Retired Teachers, Illinois Retired Teachers, Springfield Audubon Society, and St. Patrick’s Church. She also volunteered as an Ombudsman for IDOPH as a nursing home inspector and was the volunteer “plant lady” for St. John’s Hospital for a number of years. She regularly baked a quantity of pecan pies for St. Patrick’s fish dinners and other fundraisers, continuing this service well into her 90s.

Always composed and unfailingly demure, Mary Louise had a surprising talent for marksmanship: she held the record for a 50-yard freestyle muzzle-loaded bullseye at Siddens’ Gun Range. Despite outliving most of her contemporaries, Mary Louise remained quick to laugh and appreciated people with a sense of humor.

Her signature dishes, such as Swiss steak, chicken cordon bleu, German chocolate cake, and baked Alaska, will long linger in the taste bud memories of her loved ones.

Mary Louise’s love, laughter, wit, courage, and wisdom will be greatly missed by her family.

Funeral Mass will take place at 11:00AM on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1720 S Grand Ave E, Springfield, IL 62703. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Springfield.

Wilson Park Funeral Home in Rochester is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Katharine Drexel Parish, 722 S 12th St, Springfield, IL 62703

Celebration of Life will be held later that day from 1:00pm - 3:30pm located at Christ the King Parish Center, 1930 Barberry Dr, Springfield, IL 62704 The Parish Center is to the left of the main church.