ZEIGLER -- Mary (Kolar) Strakowski, 97, passed away at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2014, at home. Mary was born Feb. 14, 1977, in Zeigler, to Pete and Rosie (Penterich) Kolar. She married Joseph Strakowski on May 29, 1934, in Benton. He preceded her in death May 20, 1962. She is survived by a son, Joseph Strakowski of San Rafael, Calif.; two granddaughters and their husbands, Jeanie and Dale Null of Mulkeytown and Tina and Cameron Skobel of St. Louis; a grandson and wife, Michael and Gwen Morgan of Peoria; a granddaughter-in-law, April Morgan of Washington; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Barbara Morgan; a grandson, John Morgan; a son-in-law, Ralph Morgan; a sister, Teresa Lavar and three brothers, John (an infant), George and Johnny Kolar. Mrs. Strakowski was a member of St. Aloysius-Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Royalton. She retired from Allen Industries in Herrin in 1979 and was a homemaker. A Mass of Christian burial for Mrs. Strakowski will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 8, in St. Andrews Catholic Church in Christopher, with Father Peter Balili officiating. Burial will be in St. Andrews Catholic Cemetery in Mulkeytown. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or to the Catholic church of the donor's choice. For more information and to sign the online register book, visit www.vantreasefuneralhome.com. Published in The Southern Illinoisan on Mar. 7, 2014