Mary C. Duda, 80, of Bradenton, FL, passed away on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, after fighting a hard battle of leukemia. She was born December 27, 1943, in St. Louis, MO, the daughter Raymond and Ann Mohrman. She married Bill Duda in 1970.
Survivors include her husband of 54 years; son, Bill (Rebecca) Duda; daughter, Rachel Duda (Lawrence) Smith; beloved grandson, Simon Smith; sister, Judith Jones; brothers, David (Lorene) Mohrman and Daniel (Pat) Mohrman; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents; brother Robert (Dick) Mohrman; sister, Jane Hannah; and brothers in law, Robert Hannah and Ken Jones.
Mary was a happy, adventurous soul, who joined the Peace Corps right after graduating from South East Missouri State University. She served in Madras, India for two years. On her return trip to the states, she traveled with a backpack by herself through the Middle East and Europe. After the Peace Corps, her first job was teaching on the island of Molokai, Hawaii, followed by several years as a caseworker in the poorer areas of Chicago.
It was in Chicago, where she met her husband, Bill. After having two children, they moved to Springfield, IL, where she became a stay-at-home mom. As the children got older, she attended University of Illinois Springfield, where she earned her master’s degree in counseling.
In her free time, Mary would spend her time volunteering. She was a Big sister, Brownie leader, and participated in local activities to advocate for children dealing with abuse and neglect. This led her to a job with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as a statewide training coordinator of Foster Care and Adoption Services.
Mary loved nature; she enjoyed traveling through many national parks and forests, where she went tent camping with her family. In addition to supporting many charitable causes, she also contributed to wildlife preservation and environmental causes.
Upon retirement, Mary and Bill moved to Florida, where Mary started volunteering for political causes. She took on many roles including a term as a president of the Manatee Democratic Club and president of the Democratic Women’s Club. She also volunteered at Turning Points, an agency that serves the homeless. In addition, the couple were able to travel to many countries including a memorable trip to China.
Visitation: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, Friday, November 22, 2024, at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield.
Funeral Service: 12:00 pm, Friday, November 22, 2024, at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield. Burial will follow service at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, IL.
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