Mary K, (Basso) Krager, 94, of Chatham, formerly of Raymond, died on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at St. Raymond’s Church in Raymond on Monday, June 27. Funeral services will begin at 3 p.m. at the church with Father Joseph Molloy officiating. Hough Funeral Home in Raymond is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mrs. Krager was born on Oct. 7, 1927, in Litchfield, the daughter of Joseph and Catherine Bohlmann Basso. Her father was an Italian immigrant who worked in the area coal mines and her mother worked most of her life at Brown Shoe Fit Factory. She married Lawrence “Barney” Krager on Feb. 26, 1946 in Litchfield.
Mrs. Krager’s early interests included watching nickel movies at the Litchfield movie theater and playing basketball at Litchfield High School. As a young woman, she volunteered as a candy striper at the Litchfield Hospital.
After marriage, Mrs. Krager became a farm wife, always making sure the meals were prepared, the clothes were laundered, the house was impeccably clean and the homework was completed. Her hobbies included playing cards and she was an accomplished pinochle and bridge player. She also enjoyed watching her children’s, grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s sports and other events. She rarely missed a Lincolnwood Lancers basketball game in her younger years. Mrs. Krager was an Illini basketball and die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan and to her final days kept the game and television schedule close at hand. She enjoyed traveling, especially to see out of state family members, her 50th anniversary Alaskan Cruise and to see country music performances in Branson and Nashville. She and Mr. Krager were Meals on Wheels volunteers and she was formerly active in the St. Raymond’s Alter and Rosary Society.
Mrs. Krager lived over half her life battling cancer, having been given a terminal diagnosis at age 47, yet beating the disease not once, but three times in her life.
Mrs. Krager is survived by her children, Janet (Glenn) Bruce of Rochester, Betty Horrell of Granite City, Larry (Debbie) Krager of Harvel and Don (Karen) Krager of Springfield; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband; brother, Joseph Basso; sister, Theresa Rhoads; grandson, Andrew Krager; great-grandson, Austin Krager; and great-granddaughter, Marissa Ehmke.
Memorials may be made to Montgomery County Cancer Society or Raymond Park District. Condolences may be left online at www.houghfuneralhome.com.
