MARIE STOVER

Marie Stover, age 94, of Maple Park, IL, passed away at her home, surrounded by the love and prayers of her family, Monday, July 25, 2022.

She was born November 28, 1927, in Elgin, to loving parents, Charles and Anna VanAcker.

Marie grew up in Virgil and Maple Park areas and attended local schools.

She graduated from Maple Park High School with the class of 1946 and helmed the numerous reunions since as “keeper of the class”.

She was united in marriage to James Stover in September of 1947. After being blessed with a growing family, their paths diverged, but fate blessed Marie once more when she found Richard Siebens. The friendship grew into love, and they were eventually married at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in May of 2002. They each began their new life together in Maple Park.

Marie worked at several jobs before landing at National Electronics, now Richardson Electronics, as a welder for many years until her retirement.

Marie was an active member of St. Vincent DePaul Society and St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church. She was a member for over 70 years filled with her weekly prayer group and daily Masses. Her rosary was never far from her hands, and more often than not, in them.  For a number of years, she was an active member of the Legion Wives’, Post #312.

She was most proud of her family and followed all the activities, of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A full house was a happy home and Marie never missed a chance to fill it with family, friends, laughter and love. She was as a devout Pinochle player in her card club as she was a faithful member of the Cenacle Guild at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church. She had the travel bug, visiting with Richard every state in the U.S., every province in Canada and Mexico. They would leave after Christmas and return for Easter Dinner with the family, then leave again in the summer to their cabin in Canada. Her network of friends stretched across the country as well as generations, keeping in touch through her travels, as a “cousin’s lunch” every month and bi-yearly VanAcker reunions. She had a somewhat “uproarious” household filled with not only her children, but their friends (and sometimes friends of friends) who never left hungry. Band rehearsals and jam sessions in her basement were a common event, with Marie flashing the lights at the top of the stairs when it was time to pack up and go home. Festivals, parades, music, marching bands and carnivals put a smile on her face and laughter in her heart. She leaves many with fond memories and stories and is now at rest, claiming the promise of her Savior.

She now leaves her legacy to eight children: Bruce (Rosemary) Stover, Annette “Nettie” (Paul) Andersen, Allan (Roxanne) Stover, Marcia (George) Hess, David (Peggy) Stover, Kevin Stover, Randal (Anne Koleff) Stover and Mary Beth (Jeff) Birtell; 20 grandchildren: Patrick Stover, Melissa (Rob Olipane) Stover and their daughter Olivia; Mike (Anne) Andersen and their children: Sophie and Sean; Joe (Ashlie) Andersen and their children: Cooper, Connor and Colbie; Brian (Katie) Stover and their children: Andrew, Joshua and Cammie; Jenny (Mike Gregoire) Stover, Krissy (Jason) Johnson and their children: Raelyn and Brooks; Danielle (Jim) Mello and their children: Evelyn, Amelia and Alexander; John (Clarette Yen) Gutowski and their children: Grant and Flora; Stephen (Ashley) Hess and their children: Jay and Tyler; Katie Stover and her daughter, Eliza Hipple; Tim (Susan) Stover, Paul (Alvina) Stover and their children: Cadence and Keaton; Lindsey (Troy) Weiss and their children: Paisley, Ellie and Charlotte; Brandy (Lance) Harrelson and their children: Jacob Tatroe, Alex and Max Huerta; Aaron (Alison Matykiewicz) Stover, Nathan (Lin) Birtell and their children: Julia, Kaylee and Madelyn; Kristen (Nick) Sapoznik and their daughters Abigail and Amelia; Jessica (Adam) Zurbrugg and their children: Collins and Savannah; and Matthew Birtell;  three siblings: Raymond (Rosemary) VanAcker, Harold VanAcker and JoAnn Williams; three stepchildren: Marilyn (Dan) Westphal, Joe (Delores) Siebens and David (Connie) Siebens; one stepdaughter-in-law, Barb Siebens; 12 step-grandchildren; 21 step-great-grandchildren; 17 step-great-great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and a family of friends. The family would also like to give their greatest gratitude to Marie’s caregiver Gena who grew a fond connection with Marie and cared for her lovingly.

She is preceded by her parents, Charles and Anna VanAcker, husband, Richard Siebens, her son and her daughter-in-law; Richard (Laurie Connell-Stover) Stover, four siblings: Leona (Richard) Dillenbeck, Elizabeth (Robert) Archambault, Bernie (Patricia) VanAcker and Yvonne Amann; sister-in-law, Annabell VanAcker; brother-in-law, Robert Williams; and one stepson, Gerald Siebens.

Visitation will be Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, from 4-7:30 p.m. with a Rosary Service to begin at 7:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Maple Park, from 9-9:45 a.m., with a Mass to follow at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, Maple Park. 

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Marie’s name. Checks may be made to the “Marie A. Stover Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com where you find Marie’s full life story.