Mary M. Poelvoorde, 92, of Silvis, Illinois passed away on Thursday, February 22 at Hope Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A private family Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. Father Donald Levitt at Christ the King Catholic Church in Moline. She will be entombed in the mausoleum at St. Mary Cemetery in East Moline.

Mary was born on August 8, 1931, the third child of August (Gus) and Leontine Poelvoorde. Mary attended St. Mary Catholic School and United Township High School. Her senior year, however, was spent at Alleman Catholic High School, where she was part of the first graduating class in 1950.

Mary's working career started in the clerical department of John Deere Spreader Works in East Moline, where she continued her education by attending secretarial seminars for four consecutive years. She later transferred to the Harvester Works, where she started her tenure as the long-time receptionist and welcoming face of the plant's offices. In later years during the Christmas season, Mary oversaw sales out of her office of thousands of dollars' worth of John Deere-themed toys.

In her younger days, Mary's interests included bowling, golf and amateur modeling. She was also a long-time member of the Sigma Chi chapter of the Phi Tau Omega Sorority. Ever the consummate dresser, Mary's best-known hobby was shopping. At a time when downtown Moline was the shopping Mecca of the Illinois Quad Cities, one could often find Mary there on Saturdays after a trip to the beauty shop. She knew many of the merchants and their staff on a first-name basis. If you ever accompanied Mary on one of her shopping sprees, you could scarcely walk half a block without stopping to talk to someone Mary knew. Of course, these shopping journeys always included a stop at "Lago's" for lunch and a chocolate malt. Generous to a fault, many of these shopping trips were spent buying gifts for others, especially her seven nieces and nephews, who she spoiled endlessly. Her generous spirit was what moved her to invite her parents to move into her new home, which she shared with them until their passing.

Mary enjoyed working in her yard and was very well-known for her baking skills, creating from scratch the most wonderful cakes, cookies, and breads you can imagine. After retirement, she took up playing the organ and oil painting. Playing the organ soon gave way to painting full time. She created numerous professional-looking and beautiful pieces of artwork.

Survivors include nieces Susan (Bob) Krutzinger and Kaye Poelvoorde; four nephews: Michael (Dr. Tracy) Poelvoorde, John (Diane) Dohogne, William J. "B" Dohogne, Patrick (Shawn) Dohogne, and niece-in-law Julie Dohogne. There are six surviving great nieces, one great nephew, one great-great niece, and five great-great nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Gus and Leontine; sister Alice and her husband William C. Dohogne; brother Andrew A. Poelvoorde; close friend and sister-in-law Rose Marie (Poelvoorde) Van de Wiele; beloved niece, Theresa (Poelvoorde) Henry; and her cherished and loving companions, her puppies Mo, Gigi, Socci, Sam, Sasha, Chloe, and Sadie.

The family would like to acknowledge Dr. Tom Ade and nurse practitioner Jessica Wasson for the years of outstanding medical care they gave Mary. We especially wish to thank Dr. Navaneet Borisuth for the skilled and relentless battle he fought to rescue and preserve Mary's eyesight. Also, our thanks go out for the help and support of the staff of Hope Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation and UnityPoint Hospice.

A most heartfelt thank you goes out an outstanding member of the Silvis Police Department, Officer Kellie Smet. Kellie befriended Mary two years ago on a call to help Mary with a lost puppy she had found. Subsequently, Kellie took it upon herself to make several on and off-duty wellness visits to Mary's home and to Hope Creek. On some of the off-duty visits, Kellie's young daughter would accompany her mother, and that brought Mary great joy and comfort.

And finally, let us always remember what our sweet, loving, and generous aunt taught us growing up: "There is no love in a box cake."