Mary G. Layng

Mary Genevieve"Gen" Layng died peacefully April 12, 2011, at Stephenson Nursing Center in Freeport, Ill. Gen was born on September 7,1920, in Decatur, Ill., to Thomas and Mary Ellen (Murphy) Moran. Gen married Thomas Earle Layng in St. Louis, Mo., on October 12, 1938. They resided in Loves Park, Ill., and moved to Rockford, Ill., in 1953. Gen worked at J.I. Case Company during World War II, National Tea Company after the war, and then Woodward Governor Company for 32 years. She and Tom retired to Casselberry, Fla., where she lived until moving to Freeport, Ill., in 2004. Tom died in 1983. Gen loved baseball and played on teams that practiced against the famous "Rockford Peaches." Music was also an important part of her life. Wherever and whenever her family gathered there was singing and banjo and piano playing. She sang in church choirs and was a charter member of the Rockford Chapter of Sweet Adelines International singing in a number of area barbershop quartets. A life-long Catholic, Gen was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Freeport at the time of her death. She is survived by her son Courtlandt (Pat) Layng of Rockford, and daughter Camilla (Frank) Descourouez of Freeport, sister Delores Midden of Decatur, Ill., brother-in-law retired Judge John C. (Kit) Layng of Rockford, Ill., and sister-in-law Mary Ellen Haithcock of Alamo, Calif. Gen is also survived by grandchildren Jeanine (Joel) Penticoff, Joy (Thomas) St. Andrews, Frank (Lynnette) Descourouez, Thomas Layng and Marisa Tortorici; Lance (Shawn) Descourouez, Dana (Jeffrey) Martinez, Blair Descourouez, Mary Dunn, and Ron (Alina) Rupnow; and great-grandchildren Tony, Erin, Megan, Matt, Mike, Mitch, Marc, Austen, Alivea, Emma, Haley, Sam, Drew, Grace, Rose, Sydney, Russell, Tesla, Steve, Sarah, Jose and Ben; and many nieces and nephews. Gen was preceded in death by her husband, Tom; brothers Tom, Glenn and Jack; grandchildren David and Michele; and great-granddaughter Jessie. The family would like to thank the staff at FHN Hospice and Stephenson Nursing Center for the compassionate care they provided to Gen during her illness. Funeral mass will be Tuesday , 10:30 A.M. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Msgr P. William McDonnell will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of mass at St. Thomas. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Rockford, Il. Memorials have been established for St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and Stephenson Nursing Center. Please visit www.burketubbs.com to sign her online guestbook and to share memories.