Mary Frances Siefert

Mary Frances Siefert, 63, of DuQuoin, passed away at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, April 2, 2000 after a long battle with leukemia.  She left this world surrounded by the love of her children and in the comfort of her own home.
Mary Frances was born on February 17, 1937 in Dell, Arkansas to John Monroe and Bertha (Cook) Sharp.  She was married to Vern Siefert and he preceded her in death on March 20, 1996.
She was the first woman to head underground to work in a Southern Illinois Coal Mine.  Mary Frances gave nearly 20 years to the UMWA before retiring in 1995.  She was a long-time member of the Old DuQuoin Baptist Church.
Survivors include her daughter Linda Siefert of Elkville and two sons, Vern Ray Siefert of Old DuQuoin and Tim Siefert of Carbondale.  She was a loving grandmother to shane, Ryan, Derrick, Eric, Brooke, Zachary, Ian and Madeline and a the proud great-grandmother of Blake, Dylan and Jenna.
Memorial services were held on Thursday, April 6 at 1:00 p.m. at the Old DuQuoin Baptist Church.  The family received friends at the Neal-McClure Funeral Home in DuQuoin on Wednesday from 6 until 8 p.m. and Thursday at the church from 11:30 a.m. until time of service.
God make my life a little song
That Comforteth the sad, 
That helpeth other to be strong, 
And makes the singer glad.
