Mary Elizabeth Sanders
Mary Elizabeth Sanders, a long time resident of Mulberry Grove, Illinois, born St. Louis, Missouri, November 10th 1944, past November 8th 2019 at Mercy hospital. Mary, A proud Patriot, fighter (5x cancer survivor), daughter of the late Charlie Thompson and Dorothy Anthony, sister of JoAnn Erselius, late Charles Thompson, Charlotte Kelly, Raymond Thompson, Joyce Black and wife of Jerry Sanders,
Mother of Deborah (David) Callow, James (Julie) Norris, Joseph (Aimee) Norris,
late Tonya M. Sanders, Jeremy (Michelle) Sanders, Joshua (Stephanie) Sanders,
Grandmother of 19 grandchildren and 11 great children.
She was not just Grandmother but the embodiment of unconditional love.
Her legacy is powerful. So powerful that it cannot be bought or sold. It has to be felt and experienced. Experienced through watching her children and them now passing this to their grandchildren. Her love runs rich and deep, defying generations. Grandma will be missed but she left us with the greatest gift of all, love that knows no bounds.
We will honor Mary Sanders’s wishes to forgo a memorial service and ask simply for prayers for her and her family. Memorial gifts may be sent to International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and/or Wounded Warriors Project.
Dear Jerry, and children, Debbie, Jim, Joe, Jeremy and Josh, grandchildren and great-grandchildren
I just wanted each of you to know how deeply saddened I was on the loss of your mother and my best friend. You know how very close your mother and I were. I was proud to always call her my bestie and will miss her very, very much. We all have lost one of the kindest, gentlest and funny people I have ever had the privilege to know. I am feeling each of your pain and sorrow at this moment.
Mary and I have been best of friends since our Teen years at age 15 (me), 16 (Mary). Believe it or not we were ‘Laverne and Shirley’ before there ever was a ‘Laverne and Shirley.’ Mary always said I was able to keep her laughing when things got tough especially when her heart was full of tears. I have so many happy memories of the silly things we did and got into. Last evening when her eldest son Jim text me to let me know his mom had passed at 6:16 pm I cried buckets, it was then my husband reminded me to think of those cherished memories, when I did I started laughing. Thank you for the memories Mary Thompson-Norris-Sanders.
Mary’s husband, children and siblings have my sincere sympathy. ♥️♥️????????♥️♥️
Mary and I went to Lindbergh high school together. We stayed friends for many years after. I will miss her very much. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Mary was my cousin. Her father Charlie was my mother Goldie’s brother. Mary was a beautiful child, in body and spirit. She was kind to us all, and together we were 17 cousins. Mary was a tribute to our grandmother, Mama Jo Thompson. When I developed breast cancer a while back, Mary was generous with her own many experiences with this dread disease. My condolences to her husband, children, and grandchildren. Mary will live in our hearts forever.