Marjorie Bessey, 86, of Greenville, died on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at Greenville Nursing and Rehab, surrounded by her family.
A funeral ceremony will be privately held for the family. The family has entrusted Assalley-Young Funeral Home in Greenville with the ceremonies.
Mrs. Bessey was born in Leeds, Great Britain, on Feb. 21, 1937. The daughter of the late Harry and Lillian Nancy (Wilson) Bowyer, she attended and graduated school in Great Britain. She met and married James Patrick Thibado, in 1957, who was in the United States Air Force and stationed in the United Kingdom. They had two children, Deborah (Thibado) Schlemer and Kerry (Thibado) Wieczorek. She later divorced James Thibado and married Peter N. Bessey, at the Laramore House in St. Louis on Jan. 7, 2005.
Fiercely independent, hardworking, determined, proud, passionate and funny are how friends and family knew her best. She grew up in England and belonged to the Church of England. On Oct. 16, 2015, after living in the United States for twenty plus years, she became a naturalized U.S. citizen. For many years of her career, she worked as a medical secretary, eventually retiring as a real estate agent in the local area. She raised two daughters as a single parent and instilled a strong work ethic in her entire family.
She belonged to the World Wildlife Federation and The National Geographic Society. Her hobbies included gardening, anything with flowers, collecting English antiques and collectibles and collecting Flo-Blue China and Lladro decorative figurines.
She was preceded in death by her father, Harry Bowyer and mother Lillian Nancy (Wilson) Bowyer; sister Wendy (Bowyer) Goodman; and brother-in-law Benjamin Goodman.
Mrs. Bessey is survived by her husband, Peter N. Bessey; daughters, Deborah K. (Kenneth) Schlemer and Kerry J. Wieczorek; stepdaughters, Joanna Bessey, Sara Elie-Bessey and Lisa Bessey; brother, Christopher J. Bowyer; grandchildren, Nicholas J. Schlemer, Elizabeth N. (Kevin) Jackson, Christopher J. (Kate) Wieczorek, Dawn M. (Christopher) Rice, Dana R. (C. J.) Wilson and Daniel J. (Lizzie) Wieczorek; step grandson, Adi Bessey; former son-in-law James Wieczorek; great-grandchildren, Makhai Schlemer, Kruz Schlemer, Talulla Schlemer, Carter Jackson, Abbey Wieczorek, Jake Wieczorek, Hailie Rice, Emma Rice, Gracie Wilson, Ethan Wilson, Joey Wieczorek and Charlie Wieczorek; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, plants, and other gifts, the family requests that donations in Mrs. Bessey’s memory be given to the following memorials: The Bond County Humane Society, 2510 S. Elm St., Greenville, IL 62246 and/or Bond County Hospice, 1520 South Fourth St., Greenville, IL 62246. Visit www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com to share memories or offer condolences to the family.
