Mary Ann Girten

Mary Ann Girten, 76, of Geneseo, IL, passed away at Hammond Henry Hospital in Geneseo, IL, on Monday, February 5, 2024. A funeral service will be held at 6:00 pm on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory - Geneseo Chapel. A visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at the funeral home. Cremation rites will be accorded after the funeral service. The burial of her cremated remains will take place at a later date at North Cemetery, Geneseo, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Geneseo Aisle of Flags or the Geneseo Food Pantry.

Mary Ann was born on March 5, 1947, the daughter of Howard E. and Evelyn E. (Armstrong) Rice, in Moline, IL. On February 14, 1970, in a ceremony in Geneseo, Mary Ann married the love of her life Francis “Gene” Girten, he preceded her in death on May 19, 2019. She graduated from Geneseo High School, class of 1965. Mary Ann enjoyed volunteering many years with Geneseo Youth Baseball. She was well known around town for making the best cakes for special occasions. Mary Ann was the most loving and caring bus driver and enjoyed the students in Geneseo for over 49 years.

Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Damian (Melissa) of DeForest, WI, William (Tricia) of Geneseo, IL; step-daughters, Tanya (Wade) Pettit of Fox Island, WA, Mindy Girten (Mary Cantlin) of Grantham, NH; grandchildren, Connor (Whitley), Bryson, Bennett, Hunter (Callie), Anna Cate, Grace Lee and Caroline Page; brothers, Richard Rice of Carbon Cliff, IL, Larry (Karen) Rice of Geneseo, IL; sister, Sandra Holmstrom of Geneseo, IL; sister-in-law, Karen Rice; step-brothers, Hank (Jan) Smeltzer of Geneseo, IL, Phillip Smeltzer; step-sisters, Mary Ann Moffitt, Margaret (Max) Radue; and several nieces and nephews.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Howard E. and Evelyn E. Rice; her husband, Francis “Gene” Girten; brother, William Rice; and her brother-in-law, Roy Holmstrom; sister-in-law Ann Rice.