Marilyn R Cawley

Marilyn R. Cawley, 87 of La Salle, died peacefully in her home where she raised her family at 10:06 AM August 18 with her daughter Lynn, son in law and helper by her side. Services will be 9:30 AM Friday at the Ptak Funeral Home with a 10:00 AM mass of Christian Burial at St Patrick Church in La Salle. The Very Reverend Antonio Dittmer will officiate. Burial will be in St Vincent Cemetery La Salle. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-8 PM in the funeral home with a prayer service with Rev Paul Carlson at 4:30 PM. Marilyn was born February 11, 1927 in Wenona to Golden and Bertha (Hamm) Mills and was raised on the family farm in Oglesby, Illinois. She was the fifth of twelve children. Marilyn was swept off her feet by the legendary Ryan W. Cawley, known in the La Salle-Peru area as “Yego”. They were soon married May 27, 1950, the over under was not good… Marilyn, the giving soul, persevered and they spent 61 blissful, challenging and rewarding years together. Along with being Dan’s, the oldest and favorite, den mother (which she continued until August 18, 2014) she was also a dedicated Hospice volunteer, a devoted wife, mother, Aunt, sister, mentor and friend who appreciated everyone she met, loved freely, gave earnestly, participated genuinely with her time and treasured every friendship. She will remembered for her prodigious and timely card and note writing( hundreds of trips to the post office at night to “make sure” it got there on time” She was a converted and devoted catholic who demonstrated her faith and love simply by living life. Marilyn is survived by he sons Daniel of Burr Ridge, IL William (Keely Kumpe) of Plano TX, her daughters Lynn (Tom Ptak) Cawley of La Salle, IL and Maria (Kevin Lynch) of Glencoe, IL. Sisters and brothers Dorothy Turnbull of Denver, CO., Robert(Sherrie) Mills of Webster Park IL, Margie Kreske of Greendale, WI, Jack Mills of Oglesby, IL, Burdette(Carol) Mills of Granville, IL and Larry(Jackie) Mills of Arvada, CO. Eight incredible grandchildren Christopher Ryan Cawley, Kelly (Cawley) Salazar, Hunter Williams, Kailee Shaye Cawley, Luke Ryan, Molly Marilyn, Thomas Robert and Bridget Clare Lynch as well as three Great Grandchildren Logan Ryan, Rowan William Salazar and Jack Ryan Cawley. She was preceded in death by her husband Ryan August 12, 2011, a son Christopher Luke in 1959, her father Golden in 1948, and her mother Bertha in 1989, Brothers Wendall 2008, Edsall 2004, Sisters Betty Albert 1955, Phyllis Kelber 2000 and Eleanor Aaron 2012. Pallbearers will be Kevin Lynch, Luke Ryan Lynch, Brent Salazar, Kelley Salazar, Chris Cawley and Tom Ptak. Honorary pallbearers will be Hunter Cawley, Kaille Cawley, Tommy Robert Lynch, Bridget Clare Lynch and Molly Marilyn Lynch. Memorials may be directed to IVCH Hospice and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, and the Illinois Valley YMCA.