Margaret Mary Urbanek's Obituary
Fortified with the Sacraments of the Holy Mother Church, Margaret Mary Urbanek, age 96, of rural Pinckneyville, IL, passed away on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 11:36 a.m., in Waterloo, IL.
Margaret was born on April 30, 1928, south of Pinckneyville, IL, a daughter to John F. and Clara M. (Epplin) Buschschulte. She attended Lost Prairie School most of her grade school years and also attended St. Bruno Catholic School two years in order to prepare and receive her Sacraments. On October 7, 1950, she married Paul J. Urbanek in Pinckneyville, IL, at St. Bruno Catholic Church. After 43 years of marriage, he preceded her in death on April 28, 1994. Margaret was a lifetime member of St. Bruno Catholic Church, Pinckneyville, IL. Margaret was the hardest worker her family ever knew! She worked endless hours on the farm milking cows, tending to her chickens, gardening, butchering cattle, bailing hay, etc. In her middle-aged years, she went to work outside of the home/farm and had a mobile paper route and worked at two local bakeries before becoming an assistant librarian at the Pinckneyville Public Library. Margaret did not attend high school but did receive her GED in 1988 and then assumed the role of head librarian. She worked at the library for 21 years until her retirement in September 2008. She was very proud that all seven of her kids graduated from SIU Carbondale. She greatly enjoyed being on the farm, crocheting, quilting, reading, playing cards, fishing, playing baseball (still playing last year at 95 years old), following St. Louis Cardinal baseball (many times listening to the games on the radio), gardening, canning tomato juice and making zucchini bread. Her passion was spending time with her family, especially with her children and grandchildren for numerous family gatherings. She continued to make sure everyone's birthdays were always celebrated (she made many of the birthday cakes through the years). She attended numerous events of the grandkids. Margaret will be dearly missed by her kids and grandkids and all who knew and loved her. When someone would ask her the secret to a long life, she always would say, "Hard work and prayer." She was known for her homemade doughnuts, fried chicken and chocolate angel food cakes.
Survivors include her seven children, Richard Urbanek of Golconda, IL, Dorothy Urbanek of Pinckneyville, IL, Mary Urbanek (Bryan) Mueller of Waterloo, IL, Donna Urbanek of Waterloo, IL, Mark (Erin) Urbanek of Pinckneyville, IL, David Urbanek of Pinckneyville, IL, and Paula Urbanek (Brad) Downen of St. Louis, MO; one sister, Agnes (Earl) Gibson of North Olmsted, OH; one sister-in-law, Mary Ann Buschschulte of Cutler, IL; nine grandchildren, Christina (Dave) Fox, Suzanne Reese, Donovan Reese, Abby Mueller, Samuel Mueller, and Grace, Joseph, Leah, and Julia Downen; one great-grandson, Charlie Fox; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul; two brothers, Paul (Lucille) Buschschulte and Leo Buschschulte; one sister in infancy, Cecilia Buschschulte; and one great-grandson, Freddie Fox.
Funeral services will be held at St. Bruno Catholic Church, Pinckneyville, IL on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., with Father Brian Barker officiating. Interment will be at St. Bruno Catholic Cemetery, Pinckneyville, IL.
Visitation will be at the Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL on Tuesday, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., and again on Wednesday, from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. The rosary will be prayed at 9:00 a.m. prior to heading to the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Bruno Catholic Church or St. Bruno Catholic School.
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