Louise Jean Courtney was born July 18, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Wayne and Lucille (Umberger, Moore) Stilwell. She passed away peacefully on January 4, 2018 , at the home of her daughter Mary L. Shipley.
When Louise was an infant she moved with her family to Marion, Indiana where she continued to reside until her death. Louise graduated from St. Paul Catholic School in 1948. She attended St. Frances College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
On July 6, 1949 she married Roger E. Courtney. He preceded her in death October 31, 1979.
Louise worked several notable jobs throughout her lifetime in Marion. As a young girl she worked along side her parents at Stilwell’s Grocery, on Gallatin Street in Marion. She and Roger owned and operated the C & S Antenna Service until Roger’s death in 1979.
Louise also worked for several years at Brandt Jewelers in downtown Marion. Lastly, she was the Mayor’s receptionist at City Hall in Marion from 1988 until she retired in 1998. Louise was a life long member of St. Paul Catholic Church. She was a prolific knitter and excellent seamstress.
She is survived by her children; Mary L. (Larry) Shipley, Susan J. (David) Astolfi, Jennifer A. Courtney, Joan M. (Jill Thompson) Courtney, Ernest W. (Donna) Courtney, Margaret L. (Clinton) Garber. Grandchildren; Larry J. (Kristi) Shipley, Jeanne L. (Jeffrey Mansfield) Baker, Cheyenne J. (Sandra) Shipley, Joseph R. Astolfi, Courtney M. Astolfi, Wesley R. Courtney, Marshall E. Garber, Marlene R. Garber. Great-grandchildren; Kristi L. Baker, Brittany N. Baker, Dominique L. Shipley, Santana R. Shipley, Aurora C. Shipley, Jadden C. Shipley, Great-great-granddaughter; Callie Mae Jean Baker. Sisters; Joan Burton, Rosemary Carey and brother; John (Mimi) Stilwell. Daughter-in-law Jill Penrose and son-in-law Stephen Hall as well as many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband Roger, she was preceded in death by a son, Roger E. Courtney, Jr., daughter, Sally J. Hall, grandson, Roger E. Courtney III.
The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:30am on Thursday, January 11, 2018 in St. Paul Catholic Church, 1031 Kem Road, Marion, Indiana with Rev. Richard Weisenberger officiating.
Visitation will be held from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-7:30pm on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at Owen-Weilert-Duncan Funeral Home, Marion Chapel, 2722 South Washington Street, Marion, Indiana. The rosary service will begin at 7:30pm.
Memorial contributions can be made to: Ronald McDonald House Charities, One Kroc Drive
Oak Brook, IL 60523? or Paralyzed Veterans of America at http://www.pva.org/ or 801 Eighteenth Street NW Washington, DC 20006-3517.