Mary Jeanne Walech, 84, of Dubuque, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 21, 2025 surrounded by family. Visitation will be 4-6 pm Thursday, March 27 at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 John F. Kennedy Rd., Dubuque, where there will be a prayer service at 6 pm.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am on Friday, March 28 at Church of the Resurrection.  Rev. Phil Gibbs will officiate. Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery.

Mary Jeanne was born August 4, 1940 in Dubuque, the daughter of Justin and Madeline Reilly. She attended and graduated from the Academy of the Visitation.  Mary Jeanne worked as a dietary aide at Finley hospital, and later, when her children were older, she worked in the deli at Econo Foods.

Mary Jeanne met the love of her life, Leo Walech, and they were united in marriage at the Church of the Nativity on October 21, 1972, and purchased their home on Hansel Dr.  Mary Jeanne’s most important title, mom, came as she and Leo welcomed their three children, Kathleen, Elizabeth and Jon, creating a very close and supportive family.

When her children were born, Mary Jeanne became a mom to many.  She spent many years volunteering her time at Kennedy School, as a “room mother”, PTA member, and Girl Scout Leader.  In fact, she continued to volunteer at Kennedy School, long after her kids moved on to other schools, becoming an honorary member of the staff.  Mary Jeanne spent countless hours working with kids in kindergarten and first grade, helping them learn to read.  To this day, many young people  she would encounter when out and about would comment, “You probably don’t remember me, but you helped me learn to read”.   She loved every minute working with young children and went on to sub as a paraprofessional at Kennedy School after being convinced she could be paid to do what she loved.

In addition to all of her volunteering, Mary Jeanne found joy in sewing, crafting, and baking.  She and her children (not always willingly according to her son Jon) spent countless hours at “So Fro” fabric, picking out patterns and fabric which she used to sew clothing for all three kids.  Mary Jeanne also took crafting classes and learned to make homemade “cabbage patch dolls” and to decorate cakes.  Mary Jeanne was well known for her cakes and baked treats, and making cakes for others became a “side gig” that she did as people asked her to make cakes for their families after seeing the creations she made for her own children, including Burt and Ernie, Smurfette, Rainbow Brite, Superman and many others.

Mary Jeanne loved to laugh, and enjoyed a good cup of strong coffee and a great conversation.  She was known to make a 5 minute trip to the grocery store last an hour, much to the chagrin of her husband, because she saw so many people she knew and would stop and talk to each one.

Mary Jeanne is survived by her three children, Kathleen (Matt) Haas of Dubuque, Elizabeth (Sean) Johnson of Asbury, and Jon (Margo) Walech of Medina, Minnesota; two grandsons Victor J. Walech and Nicholas H. Walech. She is also survived by her sister in laws Judy Reilly, Betty Murphy, Jan (Bill) Kueter, and many nieces and nephews.

Mary Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband Leo on May 20, 2024, her parents, brother Tom Reilly, aunts Jeannette Permantier and Pauline Hesselman, grandmother Elizabeth Permantier, her mother and father in law, Victor and Helen Walech, in laws, Marie and Bob Hansel, Vicky and Al Fischer, and Louis Murphy.

In lieu of Flowers, memorials may be sent to the Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools (FDPS) in Mary Jeanne’s name.