Mary Ann Eibler

Mary Ann Eibler, 93 of Rockford, died Monday, July 4, 2016 at SwedishAmerican Hospital. Born May 19, 1923 in Saline, MI the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter G. Eibler. Mary Ann grew up in Dearborn, MI where she graduated from Fordson High School. She attended and graduated from the University of Michigan, class of 1945.She trained and worked as a medical technologist at Wayne County General Hospital from 1945-1951. She moved to Rockford in the fall of 1951, working at SwedishAmerican Hospital for a year, followed by a year at the Rockford Municipal Sanitarium. She returned to SwedishAmerican in the fall of 1953 as chief medical technologist. Along with Dr. Van Pernis they established the school for training medical technologists starting with 2 students their first year. In 1970 she took and passed the examination to become a clinical chemist. Along with Dr. Van Pernis she helped in the formation of the Northern Illinois Blood Bank. Later she was on the planning committee for what became The Crusader Clinic. Mary Ann retired from SwedishAmerican in 1986 and has been active in her church and as a volunteer for Northern Illinois Hospice. She was an avid golfer playing with groups at Sandy Hollow Golf Course. She also enjoyed gardening, playing bridge and loved her dogs. She was a member of Spring Creek Congregational Church (aka: Spring Creek UCC) since its formation in 1961. The family wishes to thank all of her loving and caring friends that always looked out for her in Rockford, especially her congregation family at Spring Creek UCC.
Survivors include her sisters, Mrs. Shirley Simmons of CA and Mrs. Virginia (Edmund) Greener of Mi and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Memorial service Sunday, July 17, 2016 at Spring Creek United Church of Christ, 4500 Spring Creek Rd. at 2 p.m. Private inurnment service will be held at Oak Wood Cemetery in Saline, MI. Memorials in her memory to the church or Northern Illinois Hospice. Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory assisted the family. Express online condolences at: www.fitzgeraldfh.com