Mary ""Toody"" L. Hackett's Obituary
CHARLESTON, IL - Mary L. ""Toody"" Hackett, age 63 of rural Charleston, passed away on Friday, September 30, 2011 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Services honoring and celebrating her life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston with Pastor Nick Gleason officiating. Visitation will be held Monday (October 3) from 5:00 until 7:00 at the funeral chapel. Burial will be in the Richwood Cemetery in Clark County, Illinois. It is requested that memorial gifts in her honor be made to the American Cancer Society, the Otterbein United Methodist Church Building Fund or to a charity of the donor's preference. Gifts may be left on the memorial table at the visitation or services or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920. Mary was born in Paris, Illinois on July 23, 1948 a daughter of the late Velda Arthur and Mary (Hupp) Hawkins. She married James F. ""Jim"" Hackett on February 17, 1973 in Mattoon. She is survived by Jim, her loving and devoted husband of thirty-eight years; three children, Nicole Hackett of Aurora, Illinois, Cord Hackett and wife Jamie of Humboldt, Illinois, Judd Hackett and wife Amanda of Charleston; two sisters, Linda Davis and husband Jim of Martinsville, Illinois, Gerri Wright and husband David of Kansas, Illinois; a half sister, Kathy Black also of Martinsville; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by an infant brother, Velda Hawkins and two nephews. Mary was affectionately known to everyone as ""Toody"". Since April of 2000 she has served as CEO of Overload Solutions, Inc. which is a consulting company that works with fossil fuel power plants. She had previously been employed by the Charleston Parks and Recreation Department, the Textbook Library and the Peace Meal Program at Eastern Illinois University. Toody was a faithful member of the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Charleston and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Paul McVey Post 1592. The wonderful aromas from her kitchen verified her love for cooking and baking and her love for animals was evident by the many dogs and cats which became a part of the Hackett household. Thursday evenings were spent with a group who shared her enthusiasm for knitting and she also enjoyed exercising as a member of a yoga class or simply going for a long walk in the country. Toody and Jim shared a love for travel and their most recent adventure was driving Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica. She loved her family dearly and was a devoted and loving wife and mother who will be fondly and lovingly remembered by her family and friends.Click to view Family Memorial Video.
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