Rosalie Marie Mense

   Rosalie Marie Mense, nee Buescher, 87, of St. Libory, Illinois, born on September 11, 1938, in rural St. Libory, IL, died on June 13, 2026, at LaBella Care Center in Freeburg, IL.

   Rosalie graduated from St. Libory Grade School and attended Marissa High School. She went to work in St. Louis for a time and then became a stay-at-home mom for several years. She later became a cook at the Freeburg Care Center, from which she eventually retired. Rosalie was a life-long member of St. Liborius Catholic Church in St. Libory and received all her sacraments there. She was member of the church choir for more than 40 years, as well as a member of the CCW. She was a dedicated quilter and very talented in creating her own quilts from start to finish, as well as quilting with the “quilting ladies” at church. Rosalie was also a member of the St. Libory Legion Auxiliary and was a cook for weddings and events at the Legion for many years.

   Over the years, Rosalie was a loving grandmother to her children’s children and spent many days or evenings caring for them. A highlight for all the grandchildren is the week every summer they got to spend camping and boating with Skip and Rosalie at Carlyle Lake. Countless hours were spent teaching their grandchildren to waterski. Many special memories were made during these summer vacations. Over the last several years, Rosalie enjoyed spending a little time playing slot machines and the grandkids treated her to an afternoon out after Christmas with all of them where they could play a few slots with Grandma. Both Rosalie and the grandkids enjoyed these special afternoons. Even with progressing dementia over the past few years, Rosalie maintained her sense of humor and could pull off the best one-liners and make us all laugh.

   Rosalie was preceded in death by her parents, George and Bertha, nee Beelman, Buescher; her husband, Gilbert “Skip” Mense whom she married at St. Liborius on May 21, 1958, and who died on November 27, 2016; siblings, Armella Luecking, Dolores Bergkoetter, Robert Buescher, Ralph Buescher, Harold Buescher; brothers-in-law, Vernon Mense, Ferdinand Luecking, Melvern Weber, Dan Cronin; sisters-in-law, Virginia (Harold) Buescher and Dorothy Mense.

   She is survived by her children, Kathy (Jerry) Brockmeier, Kevin (Mona) Mense, Mike Mense, Karen (Rodney) Kehrer; grandchildren, Jamie (Kevin) Fritz, Megan (Mike) McLean, Kristen (Matt) Knake, Lucas (Andrea) Mense, Lauren (Max) Stutsman, Jeremy (Casey) Mense, Jessica (Clark) Weeke, Owen Kehrer and Olivia Kehrer; great grandchildren, Payton Fritz, Mason, Wyatt and Nolan McLean, Caleb, Camden and Cody Knake, Hudson and Harper Mense, Bennett and Rory Stutsman, Shea and Riley Mense, and Weston Weeke; sister, Evelyn Weber; brothers-in-law, Tom Bergkoetter and Roy Mense; and sisters-in-law, Jeanette Cronin, Sandra Buescher, Beverly Buescher and Donna Hummert; also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

   Rosalie’s family would like to thank the staff at LaBella Care Center for the compassionate care they had for Rosalie.

   Memorials may be donated to the St. Liborius Church Renovation Fund, or in the form of Masses, or to Hospice of Southern Illinois, 305 S. Illinois St, Belleville, IL 62220. Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting mollfuneralhome.com.

   VISITATION: Will be held at St. Liborius Catholic Church, 911 Sparta Street, St. Libory, IL from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026, and from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 20, 2026.

   FUNERAL: A funeral Mass will be held at the church on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. with Father Mark Stec celebrating. Burial will follow in St. Liborius Catholic Cemetery.