Mary Lois Jourdan

Mary Lois Jourdan, 96, of Palestine, IL, died at 4:23 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at Heritage Health in Robinson, IL. She was born October 24, 1921 in Willow Hill, IL, the daughter of Everett Jones & Mary (Smith) Jones, both of whom preceded her in death. She married Guy C. Jourdan on July 29, 1940, and he preceded her in death on April 8, 2000. She was also preceded in death by her son, Charles E. Jourdan; by her grandson, Scott Knoblett; by her great-granddaughter, Emma Jane Eckert; by her great-great-grandson, Charles Jeffrey Jourdan; and by her brothers, Allen Jones and Wesley Jones. She is survived by her daughter & son-in-law, Jeanette & Leonard Knoblett (Palestine, IL); by her daughter-in-law, Donna Jourdan (Hinckley, IL); by 8 grandchildren, Jeff & Wendy Jourdan, Brad & Lauren Jourdan, Greg & Erin Jourdan, Mark & Teresa Jourdan, Julie & Mike Savitksi, Shari & Jim Eckert, Todd Knoblett, and Vicki & Allen Wood; by 21 great-grandchildren; by 1 great-great-grandchild; by her sister-in-law, Bernadine Jones (Newton, IL); by her brother-in-law, Jack & wife Joan Jourdan (Effingham, IL); as well as several nieces and nephews. Lois grew up in Willow Hill and was a 1939 graduate of Willow Hill High School. She worked for a year as a switchboard operator before getting married and starting her family. She was a dedicated housewife, and took this role very seriously throughout her life. For years, she kept a vegetable garden, and she grew what her family ate. Any one of them could attest to the fact that Lois knew her way around a kitchen. She could make a mean goulash, and her ham and chili were staples of the Jourdan family diet. When she wasn’t busy providing food for the family table, she used her famous green thumb to tend to her roses, snapdragons, sweet peas, clematis, and snowball bush. Her flower garden even won the Beautification Award from the Chamber of Commerce one year. Though she found purpose in making her house a home, Lois’ true calling in life was as a grandmother. She was the grandma who hung out and listened to the Cubs play in her kitchen, who laid on the floor playing blocks, and who spent countless hours outside pushing grandkids on the tire swing. She was a giving and generous spirit who filled the world around her with love. Her legacy lives on through her family, who will never forget her. A time of visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 9th at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine. Funeral services will immediately follow and will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, with Celebrant Curt Goodwine officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Palestine Food Pantry or to the Palestine Library, with envelopes available at the funeral home.