Mary Jean Mathews

Mary Jean “Mary” Mathews, 74, of Marseilles, passed away September 15, 2026, at Pavilion of Ottawa.

Memorial visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, September 20 at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Shawn Saldano of the Marseilles Methodist Church officiating. Private burial will be in Riverview Cemetery in Marseilles.

Mary was born on December 6, 1951, in Kewanee, IL, to Kenneth and Cleona (Parks) Chasteen. She graduated from Malden High School in 1970.

She spent many years as a cook and manager at a few of the truck stops and restaurants in the LaSalle-Peru area. Mostly at The Golden Bear Restaurant as the midnight manager and cook. She also worked at Hamilton’s Truck Stop until Sapp Brother’s opened. She then went on to work at Harrah’s Casino in Joliet as a line cook and supervisor until her retirement.

Mary is survived by her son, Danny (Sherri) Mathews of Marseilles; two grandchildren, Joseph (Bryanna) Mathews of Germantown Hills and Anna (Ricky) Thompson of Marseilles; one great-granddaughter, Leslie Thompson of Marseilles; a brother, Edward (Diane) Chasteen of La Moille; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her twin siblings, Robert Chasteen and Roberta Baggs; a brother, Richard Chasteen; and one sister in infancy.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Mary will be donating her brain to the Huntington’s Disease Clinic in Iowa City for further research on the disease.

Seals-Campbell Funeral Home

1009 E. Bluff St., Marseilles, IL 61341

815-795-5151 www.sealscampbell.com