Mary L Dailing

January 6, 2021, Mary Lou Dailing, 91, passed away peacefully in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  She was born on September 3, 1929, in Quincy, Illinois, and was married to the late James Dailing for 67 years.  She is survived by her five children:  Anne Brill (David) of Washington, DC, Phillip Dailing (Diane) of St. Charles, Illinois, Janet Cox (Steve) of Wauconda, Illinois, Stephen Dailing of Plantation, Florida, and David Dailing (Sherri) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; seven grandchildren:  Rebecca, Daniel (Abby) and Adam Brill, Jennifer Albert (Joe), Lucas Dailing, Amy Jackson (Kevin), and Peter Dailing; and five great grandchildren: Aspen, Mason, and Jaxon Albert, Noel Jackson, and Shoshana Brill.

Mary Lou was born and raised in Quincy, Illinois.  She met her future husband, Jim, in elementary school when she was in sixth grade and he was in fourth grade.  Mary Lou graduated from Quincy High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society.  She graduated from Quincy College with honors in English in 1951.  Soon after their marriage in 1952, Mary Lou and Jim moved to the Chicago area where they lived in Oak Park and Glen Ellyn, Illinois.  They relocated to Plantation, Florida in 1972 when Jim accepted a transfer with Motorola.

Mary Lou spent most of her adult years raising her family.  After her children were grown, she worked as a teacher of Braille at the Fort Lauderdale Center for the Blind where she also served on the board.  She also served on the City of Plantation Advisory Board for the Disabled.  Although she was blind for much of her long life, Mary Lou was engaged with the world, listening to audio books and programs on the radio.  She especially enjoyed listening to music and was an accomplished singer during her high school and college years, performing as a soloist with various groups.  She was a longtime member of St. Gregory’s Church in Plantation.

 A graveside service at Greenmount Cemetery in Quincy, Illinois, is being planned for a later dale.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Lighthouse for the Blind.