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Cleta 'Granny' Saffelder of Marion

MARION - Cleta F. "Granny" Saffelder, 84, of Marion, passed away at 3:40 a.m. Thursday, April 4, 2019 at the Anchor Care Center in Marion.

"Granny" was born on May 12, 1934 in Flush, Kansas to Leo J. and Isabel Margaret (Dekat) Gareis. She married J. Neil Saffelder on Dec. 30, 1952 in Flush, Kansas. They shared 40 years together until he preceded her in death on June 5, 1992.

"Granny" was retired from being the head cook at Marion Junior High School, where she worked for many years. After her retirement, she continued to take tickets at Marion Unit #2 athletic events.

"Granny" was Catholic and a longtime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion. She was an active member who helped with the Friday Fish Fry at the Marion Knights of Columbus during Lent. In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling with family to different locations throughout the U.S. She also enjoyed spending quality time with family at La Fiesta, Sunday dinners with family and the tradition of "cookie day" before Christmas.

Survivors include her sons, Neil (Karen) Saffelder of Creal Springs and Scott Saffelder of Marion; daughter, Gayle (Scott) Phelps of Marion; grandchildren, Shelby Phelps (significant other Chris Goode) of Evansville, Indiana, and Connor Phelps of Greeley, Colorado; great-grandson Javan Walston, of Marion; sisters, Maxine Muir of St. George, Kansas and Anna Minihan of Topeka, Kansas; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Russ Saffelder; and grandchildren Casey and Noah Saffelder.

A funeral mass will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, April 12 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 600 N. Russell St., Marion. Father Brian Barker will officiate. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion.

Visitation will be held from 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday, April 11 at Blue Funeral Home in Marion.

Memorial donations are suggested to Hospice of Southern Illinois or St. Joseph Catholic Church Building Fund. They will be accepted at Blue Funeral Home, 1704 N. Court St., Marion, IL 62959.

For more information or to sign the memorial guest register, visit www.bluefuneralhome.com.