Marilynn passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026 just 23 days before her 92nd birthday in the home of her loving daughter and caretaker, Donna, surrounded by family and all of the love they have for her. Our family is deeply indebted to our sister Donna – who took the most loving care of our dear Mother for the last 14 years. What started as a temporary arrangement turned into a new family dynamic for both. Marilynn said that Donna is the best Nurse in the world, and we all agree with our mother! A funeral mass will be Saturday April 11 in St. Patrick Church at 11. Reverand J.A Small, Parochial Vicar of Saint John Baptist de La Salle Parish will officiate. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Mendota. Visitation will be in the church on Saturday from 9 to 11. Marilynn was born on April 24, 1934 at St. Mary’s Hospital in La Salle IL to Joseph and Otillia (Meyer) Zolper. She was happily married to Milton Sexton for 48 years until his passing. She started her education at St Patrick’s School in La Salle Il, and then went on to complete her education in Mendota Il. She was actively involved in her faith attending St. Hyacinth’s Church in La Salle until she could no longer manage getting there in person. Then she received visits in her home from Fathers Otto and Small along with Sister Noberta. She truly looked forward to these visits and it made her at peace that she could not attend church in person. She was employed as a Telephone Operator, then moving to Flint Michigan to work at the Flint Journal Newspaper until moving back to Il. She became employed with the La Salle News Tribune in the Circulation Dept working until her retirement on May 28, 1999 after 27 years of employment there. She loved this job and made wonderful friends that she spoke highly of throughout her life. During this time, she became what she was the proudest of, a loving Mother and wife taking care of 6 children and her husband. Family vacations were camping trips and packing up for a large family was not an easy task, but we always had the best times. She loved to hike and go for walks. We had many picnics at Starved Rock, while hiking there on the weekends. She also took many trips to visit her son Richard who was in the Air Force. His being stationed in so many different states made it possible for her to see new places on a regular basis. She loved these trips and was always sad to leave as she wished they could all be closer. She took so much pleasure in taking care of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She continued that love of family for the rest of her life. She would go to every event that she could that her kids and grandchildren, then great grandchildren participated in. From sports, music, dance, and theater. Attending more than her fair share of sporting events (soccer, basketball, volleyball, football, gymnastics, dance recitals). Flute Recitals, band concerts, marching band competitions, city band concerts and any parade they were in. She had a passion for reading and when she could no longer see as well to read, she would do the audio books. She was always searching for new books to read. She did love going on Facebook and following her many friends and family. She learned to keep up with technology and continued to amaze all of us. Her memory was fantastic, and family would reach out to her to get the story correct on things others couldn’t quite remember. Her stories and memories will live on through the legacy of the large family she built, and words can never express how deeply she will be missed by everyone who knew her. She is survived by her children, Richard (Gretchen) Engel of Toano, Virginia, Debbie (Joe) Wasilewski of Spring Valley, IL, Donna Engel of Peru, IL, Diane (Rick) Mann of Ottawa, IL, Darla (Jason) Laier of Peru, IL, David (Maggie) Sexton of La Salle, IL. The joy of her heart, her 15 grandchildren, Joe (Kayla) Engel, David (Stacey) Engel, April (Jared) Wilson, Alicia (Mike) Smith, Jackie Laden, Lynett and Heather Graves, Laura (Brian) Moline, Jennifer Mann, Robert (Hattie) Mann, Jeremy Laier, Jenna Laier, Michael Sexton, Brady Sexton and Davinna Sexton. She took such pride in having 24 Great Grandchildren, Kyla (Jabriel), Jonah, Sophia, Brenden (Katie), Tai, Amaya, Nathan, Adam, Olivia, Maddie, Nora, Jaxon, Ari, Stella, Scarlett, Brian (Rocky), Carter, Teagan, Lylia, Ian, Trent, Ashton, Levi and Giuliana (Gigi). Her siblings Joseph (Judy) Zolper, Gerald (Susan) Zolper, Ronald (Cheryl) Zolper, Dale (Jenny) Zolper, Paul (Marijean) Zolper, John (Cindy) Zolper, and Marcia (Glenn) Kleckner, several nieces and nephew Her loving dog Charlie who would wake her up each morning. She was proceeded in death by her husband, parents, sister Marjorie (Marge) Galloway and infant sister June Mary. On line condolence may be expressed at www.burgessfh.com
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