- Date Of Birth: February 5, 1936
- Date Of Death: February 5, 2021
- State: Illinois
Marjorie Theresa “Marge” (Mazzorana) Kessel passed away peacefully at her home on her 85th birthday surrounded by loving family members.
Marge was born in LaSalle at St Mary’s Hospital. She was the daughter of Louis and Stephanie (Daniel) Mazzorana of Peru, original owners of the Igloo Drive-In. She graduated from LaSalle-Peru High School in 1954. She attended Mundelein College in Chicago and Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. She put her heart and soul into the Igloo and also worked at Illinois Valley Community Hospital.
Marge and her husband, Robert “Bob” Kessel would have celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on February 15th. They were married at St. Valentine’s Church in Peru in 1958. Her husband, Bob likes to tell the story of when he saw her on the city bus in Peru and it was love at first sight. He later applied for a job at the Igloo and to his surprise, Marge was a daughter of the boss.
The Kessels had three children, Mark, Matthew and Peggy. As a family, they enjoyed vacations together. They went to many states and Canada. For Marge and Bob’s 50th wedding anniversary, they took the entire family – children and their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren – to Vancouver Island in Canada.
After retiring, Marge and Bob continued to travel. They loved visiting their children and grandchildren. Some of their favorite places were Niagara Falls and Biloxi, Mississippi. They also cherished memories of an overseas trip to Italy. Locally, they spent time at state parks, the Peru YMCA (along with the Swimming gang) and the riverboat casinos. During quiet times, she liked to play scrabble and listen to music.
Marge was a caring and generous person. She often surprised her grandchildren and others with loving, kind gestures. While working at the Igloo, Marge was a good friend to the young people who worked there. They admired her and appreciated her attention.
She is survived by her husband, Robert “Bob” of Peru; three children, Mark (Ann) of Longmont, CO, Matthew of Indianapolis, IN and Peggy Tonarelli (partner Roger Ellerbrock) of Clinton, IA; five grandchildren, Amber, Benjamin, Emily, Stephanie and Anthony; four great-grandchildren, Logan, Liam, Gionna and Naomi; a brother, Joseph “Joe” Mazzorana; sisters, Nancy Mazzorana of Warrenville, Judy (Mark) Grant of Peru and Janet Langham of Peru; a brother-in-law, George Walsh of Peru and many beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Stephanie Mazzorana; a sister, Louise Walsh; a brother-in-law, Karl “Tom” Langham and a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Mazzorana.
