Maxine "Max" Kessler

Maxine "Max" Dorothy (Soucie) Kessler, of Bradley, was born Dec. 25, 1922, in St. Anne. She was one of seven children born to Emory and Yvonne (Benoit) Soucie. She was the loving wife of John Kessler for more than 50 years. They were married Aug. 21, 1944 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kankakee. He passed away in 1995. Maxine passed from this world Friday (Jan. 3, 2014) after recently celebrating her 91st birthday. Faith, family and friends were the cornerstones of Maxine's life. She was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church for more than 60 years, where she was a member of the Women's Guild, Renew, prayer groups and choir. She enjoyed singing at Sunday celebration of the Eucharist and at hundreds of funerals and helping with the funeral luncheons. She was a member of the Kankakee Women's Club and an avid bridge player for more than 60 years. She also delivered Meals on Wheels until she was 82 years of age. Maxine loved her family only second to God. She and her husband, John, raised their seven children and she is grandmother to 19 and great-grandmother to nine. Maxine is survived by five sons, Robert and Judith Kessler, of Mason City, Iowa, James Kessler, of Phoenix, Ariz., John and LuAnn Kessler, of Kankakee, Joseph and Marlina Kessler, of Tempe, Ariz., Thomas and Carol Kessler, of St. Charles; one daughter, Mary and Joe Vannucci, of New Milford, Conn.; and one daughter-in-law, Pat Kessler of Knoxville, Tenn; 12 grandchildren, Brian, , Sarah, Jonathan, Matt, Nicole, Kathy, Olivia, Will, Scott, Kim, Michael, and Colin; nine great-grandchildren, Luke, Ella, Meah, Brian, Joseph, Baylen, Kayla, Alayna, Brady; one sisters, Sandra Zelazny, of Grayslake, and many nieces and nephews. Maxine was preceded in death by her son, William; brother, Emory; sisters, Wanita, Marguerite, Betty and Willodine; and many dear friends. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais. A funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bradley. Father Tony Nugent will officiate. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery, Bourbonnais at a later date. Memorials may be made to Mercy Center for Boys and Girls, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or to The Salvation Army. Mercy Center for boys and girls - www.mercyhome.org St. Jude's Research Hospital - www.stjude.org The Salvation Army - salvationarmyusa.org

Maxine "Max" Kessler

December 25, 1922 - January 3, 2014