Mary Jo Mordhorst, nee Paisley, 84, of Belleville, IL, born Wednesday, October 2, 1940, in Winfield, IA, passed away Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, MO.
Mary Jo worked as a Grade School Teacher for Holy Family Catholic Church in Cahokia, IL, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Freeburg, IL and various other schools. As a certified Dyslexia Tutor, she found tutoring students at Scottish Rite particularly gratifying, enjoying hearing her students recount their successes in the classroom. She was a member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL, most recently serving as deacon, a role which well suited her compassion and caring. She was awarded the Church Woman of the Year Award in 2010.
A proud member of National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for more than 53 years, Mary Jo established her lineage from six patriots of the American Revolution. She served in multiple state offices prior to being elected to the office of Vice President General from Illinois. She was elected Chaplain General of NSDAR in 1995 and later served as President of the NSDAR Executive Club.
Mary Jo was an active member of other lineage organizations including Colonial Daughters of the Seventeenth Century (a past National Officer), Colonial Dames of America (past President Chapter XII St. Louis, Mo), Mayflower Society, Colonial Dames XVII Century, New England Women and Continental Society of Indian Wars. She has been an active member for many years of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and the Thursday Literary Club.
She was preceded in death by her:
- Husband, Ronald Lee Mordhorst
- Son, David Lee Mordhorst
- Parents, Paul Shannon and Mary Anna, nee Patterson, Paisley
- Brothers-in-law:
- Myron Jennings
- Dennis Farrenkopf
- Wally Leonaitis
- Sister-in-law, Joanne Leonaitis
Surviving are her:
- Daughter, Mary Ellen Bertrand, M.D., of Belleville, IL
- Son, Robert Allen Mordhorst (Ikrame Selouane) of Fulton, MO
- Daughter-in-law, Vivian (Ted Martin) Kloke, O.D., of Edwardsville, IL
- Sisters:
- Tana Rae Jennings of Winfield, IA
- Emma Jane Farrenkopf of Excelsior Springs, MO
- Grandchildren:
- Anna Marie (Robert) Brubaker, D.O.
- Allison Lee Martin
- Mary Eleanor Bertrand
- William Nelson Bertrand
- Sophia Marie Mordhorst
- Great-grandchildren:
- Bennett Brubaker
- Lincoln Brubaker
- Willa Brubaker
- Nieces:
- Kerrie Harwig
- Laurie Blinn
- Lisa Ballenger
- Janet Anderson
- Kathy Hemsath
- Nephew, Kerry Jennings
Memorials: Memorials may be made to the First United Presbyterian Church or to the Friends of the DAR Schools Fund.
Visitation: Visitation is from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville, IL.
Services: Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., July 10, 2025, at First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL with Rev. Rob Dyer officiating. Interment will follow at Green Mount Protestant Cemetery, Belleville, IL.
