GENOA — Mary G. "Gene" Mead, 92, of Genoa, died of natural causes on Monday, May 31, 2021 at NW Medicine- Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb.

She was born on February 28, 1929 in Amboy, the first of 10 children, to Cecil and Catherine (Weidner) Harrison. Her early education took place in rural one room schoolhouses and she graduated near the top of her class from Amboy High School. She stayed in touch with her high school classmates and enjoyed their reunions. She was married to Charles Mead on July 15, 1948 in Amboy. She resided in Genoa, and was a member of the St. Catherine of Genoa Roman Catholic Church in Genoa for over 50 years. Principally a homemaker she also enjoyed and stayed busy outside the home as a member of the Alter and Rosary Society, a founding member and past President of the Friends of the Library, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and was active at her church. For many years she has sponsored several children in central and south America through charitable organizations and has enjoyed writing to them and watching them grow.

She loved to exchange letters with her brothers, sisters and friends and many marveled at her beautiful penmanship.  She was considered to be the Harrison family historian, kept track of hundreds of birthdays, anniversaries and addresses and was an always reliable resource of family information.  In addition to being dedicated to her family, she was passionate about her flowers, gardening and watching and feeding wild birds.

Survivors include her three children, Patrick Mead and his wife Lori of Utah, John Mead and his wife Jodie of Wisconsin, and Mary Mead-Cantrell of Oregon. Gene has seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by her brothers, Cecil Harrison and wife Shirley, of Amboy, Gerald Harrison and wife Mary Ann, of W. Lafayette, Ind., Stanley Harrison and wife Mary, of Milwaukee, Wis., sisters, Dorothy Cheshier of Sterling, and Rosetta Baumgartner, of Princeton; sister-in-laws, Sharon Harrison, of Polo, and Mary Lou Harrison, of Amboy.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, sister, Rita Leffelman and brothers, Duane, Stephen and Raymond Harrison.

Her visitation will be on Friday, June 4th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Slater-Butala Funeral Home of Genoa. A graveside service will follow at 2:30 p.m. at St. Catherine of Genoa Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made directly to St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Genoa or the National Audubon Society (www.Audubon.org) or sent in care of the Slater-Butala Funeral Home, 132 W. Main St., Genoa, IL. 60135. (phone-815-784-5191)  The family wishes to thank the ED staff, nurses and physicians at Kishwaukee Hospital and JourneyCare for their compassionate services.

To sign the online guest book or share a special memory, go to www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com.