Maxine Giacomo's Obituary
Maxine Giacomo, age 97, of Belleville, IL, departed this life for her heavenly home on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., in St. Paul Senior Community, Belleville, IL.
Maxine was born on August 16, 1926 in Clarmin, IL, a daughter to Jesse and Esther (Gass) Shook. She grew up in Clarmin where she accepted Christ as her Savior. She lived there until her late teens when work drew her to St. Louis, where she became employed at the Brown Shoe Company. She returned to Southern Illinois where she worked for the Marissa Coal Company in the office as an administrative assistant. It was there she met her darling husband. On June 4, 1949, she married Wilbert Charles Giacomo in Clarmin, IL and he preceded her in death on April 7, 1974. From that union they welcomed three beautiful daughters Frances, Rhonda, and Joni.
When Maxine married Wib, she became joint owner of Giacomo Feed and Trucking for 25 years. She worked as Wib's bookkeeper until his death. She was a woman-business owner (even before it was cutting edge) before selling it. She then worked for Spartan Light Metals for 15 years. She earned her GED at night school after having become a mother.
Maxine was the best at birthday suppers, she was always coming up with new cake decorations every year. She was a room mother, at least, a hundred times. Maxine could outlast the strongest when it came to shopping ventures and she truly loved vacationing at the Lake of the Ozarks with family.
Maxine was a lifelong learner and an avid reader. She enjoyed desserts and anything chocolate, especially chocolate chip cookies. Having learned the skill and love of gardening from her dad. He was always trying to cultivate something new every year. Maxine loved to pick the first tomatoes and strawberries out of her garden. Maxine enjoyed singing lots of Christmas carols at Christmas time.
She loved the Lord and once delivered Bibles to her entire neighborhood during the 2015 Billy Graham's Hope Across America campaign. Maxine will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Survivors include her three daughters, Frances (Roger) Lewis, Rhonda (Steve) Baird, and Joni (Donn) Schaefer; eight grandchildren, Angela (Ian) Hester, Becky (Jeff) Halloran, Crystal (Russell) Jones, Joey (Holly) Baird, Greg (Mallory) Baird, Jeff (Michelle) Baird, Chad (Gayle) Schaefer, and Stephanie Kowaluk; 15 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and her fourth "girl" Mary Ann Hahn and her husband, Paul.
She was preceded in death by her dearly loved husband, Wilbert; her parents; and her siblings, LeeDale Shook, Juanita Obermeier, Billie Morrison and Duane Shook.
Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church, Fairview Heights, IL on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with Brother Tim McIntyre and Pastor Paul Hahn officiating. Interment will be in Coulterville City Cemetery, Coulterville, IL, on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church, Fairview Heights, IL on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., and on Wednesday morning from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Maxine had a giving heart and was always saddened to think about children going hungry. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Global Hunger Relief, www.globalhungerrelief.org.
Pyatt Funeral Home, Coulterville, IL has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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