Deacon Euchrist "Mush" Marcotte

Deacon Euchrist J. "Mush" Marcotte, 87, of Bourbonnais, passed away Thursday (Jan. 16, 2014) at his home. He was born June 18, 1926, the son of Ralph and Rosella Mercier Marcotte. His wife, the former Yvonne Marie Messier, whom he married June 11, 1949, passed away Feb. 17, 1982. After Yvonne's death, he studied to become a deacon. He was ordained as a Permanent Deacon on Sept. 6, 1986. Mush joined the U.S. Navy. He served with his brothers, Kenneth (U.S. Army) and Roland (U.S. Navy) during World War II. After the Navy, Mush worked for the U.S. Post Office and later at Maternity BVM Catholic Church, school and cemetery. He worked for the Village of Bourbonnais Animal Control, where he always found homes for the animals. He was one of the first bus drivers for District 53. He retired in 1993 after more than 35 years of service to Maternity BVM. After that, he was an active volunteer in Share Foods. He also worked at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Homes. Mush made several medical mission trips to Belize with his sister and brother-in-law, Henrietta and Francis "Foo" Chamness, where he made many new friends. He was a past member of the Holy Name Society of MBVM and the Knights of Columbus. He helped with the monthly "Garbage Can Dinners" for the area nursing homes. He also was active with "Project Recycle" repairing bikes for area children. Mush was also a longtime coach for the women's softball team where he coached for the "Dairy Queen" team. Papa Mush was the "go to" babysitter for all his grandchildren. He always had Chicken Noodle soup or a trip to the Dairy Queen. Mush is survived by son and daughter-in-law, David (Gina) Marcotte, of Manteno; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Donna, of Bourbonnais, Debbie (Bill) Castongia, Lorrie (Steve) Thornton, of Kankakee, and Diane (Adrian) Denault, of Bradley; nine grandchildren, Dawn (Steve) Hollister, Rachel Thornton, Kaitlin (Jared) Walters, Erick Gereaux, Adam (Valerie), Jacob (Julie), Luke (Jill), and Matthew Marcotte, and Ethan Castongia; seven great-grandchildren, Reagan, Damien, Skyler, Mackenzie, Tristan, Christian and Jenna; brother, Roland (Ellie) Marcotte; sisters and sisters-in-law, Henrietta Chamness, Rose Longtin, Pat Perreault, Esther Marcotte, Mary Marcotte, Gert Dupuis and Anne Messier. He was preceded in death by one son, Dean Thomas; brother and brothers-in-law, Kenneth and Red Marcotte, Harold Longtin, Jim Ealy, Foo Chamness, Ambrose Perreault; and sister, Phoebe Ealy. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Maternity BVM Catholic Church, Bourbonnais. Burial will be in Maternity BVM Cemetery, Bourbonnais. Memorials may be made to Maternity BVM Catholic Church or to Presence Our Lady of Victory in Bourbonnais. Please sign his online guestbook at clancygernon.com.

Deacon Euchrist "Mush" Marcotte

June 18, 1926 - January 16, 2014