Mary Burnette

Mary J. Burnette, 90 of Mendota passed away peacefully on September 15, 2025, at Allure in Mendota. Visitation will be Friday, September 26 at First United Methodist church from 10am-11am with a service at 11. Rev. Mary Bohall will officiate, and burial of ashes will follow at Restland Cemetery. Cremation rites have been accorded. Wasmer Funeral Home is privileged to assist the family.

Mary Jane Harvey was born on April 1, 1935, in Mendota, Illinois, to Luella Catherine (Gustavson) Harvey and Francis Marion Harvey. She graduated from Mendota Township High School in 1953 and married the love of her life, Fred Burnette on August 16 of that same year. Together, they raised two sons, Jeffrey and Duane, and shared a remarkable 71-year marriage. Mary was a devoted wife, a loving mother, a proud grandmother, a cherished aunt, and a dear friend to many. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, Sunday school teacher, and lunchroom monitor. But to countless children, she was better known as “the candy lady” who manned the sweets counter at Spurgeon’s department store for more than two decades. Mary and Fred shared a deep commitment to and pride in their hometown. Together, they helped create the Walk of Honor in Veterans Park and led fundraising efforts to build the park’s gazebo. They also raised funds for flagpoles to memorialize veterans buried at Mendota’s Restland Cemetery. She is survived by her sons, Jeffrey (Sheila) Burnette of Elgin, IL and Duane (Denise) Burnette of Mendota, IL; her grandchildren, Brandon (Katie) Burnette of Bloomington, IL, Sean (Isabela) Burnette of Chicago, IL, and Austin Burnette of Chicago, IL; and her great-grandson, Benjamin Burnette of Bloomington, IL. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband; her brothers, Ronald and William Harvey; and her sisters, Gladys Karras and Verla Shaw. The family would like to extend a special thank-you to Lindsey Chavez, whose compassion and care brought comfort to Mary in her final months and whose friendship Mary cherished to the end. Mary’s legacy of love, kindness, and devotion lives on in all who knew her. Memorials may be directed to Illinois Valley Animal Rescue IVAR, condolences may be left at wasmerfuneralhome.com.