Mary E. Springsteen

Mary E. “Betty” Springsteen, 77 of Aledo, formerly of Milan and Andalusia, died Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at the Mercer County Nursing Home, with her family at her side. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Andalusia. Burial will be at the National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal. Visitation is Thursday from 4 to 7 PM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with a rosary at 4PM and a Prayer Service at 7 PM. Visitation is also one hour prior to services on Friday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Mercer County Nursing Home for the Hospice Room or St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Speer Funeral Home, Aledo, is in charge of arrangements. Betty was born on April 23, 1930 in Davenport, Iowa to Ross & Marie (Adamy) Williams. She married Howard Springsteen on June 18, 1949 in Davenport. He preceded her in death on December 12, 1994. Betty was a devout member of the Catholic Faith, attending both, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Milan. She was also a member of the Legion of Mary and made quilts with the St. Ambrose Women’s Quilting Group. Betty made hundreds of rosaries from her own Job’s Tears plants to give away. Betty is survived by 2 sons: John (Sherry) Springsteen of Taylor Ridge and Howard Springsteen of San Diego, CA; 3 daughters: Linda (John) Bivens of Reynolds, Sue (Dave) Short of High Springs, FL and Colleen (Jon) Nation of Aledo; 17 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert (Diane) Williams of Denver, CO; 2 sisters-in-law, Beth Williams of Des Moines, IA and Shirley Williams of Philadelphia. She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Henry V. Pauley; husband; 3 brothers, Ross, Jr., Louis and Edmund Williams; a sister, Mary in infancy; a sister-in-law, Ruth Williams and a grandson, Andrew Springsteen.