Arlene Marie "Cookie" Bruch, 90, of Mount Olive died Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, at 6:18 p.m. at her residence.
Funeral Mass was said Tuesday, Feb. 2, at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Mt. Olive with Father Larry Anschutz officiating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Mt. Olive.
Becker & Son Funeral Home in Mt. Olive was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Bruch was born on May 15, 1925, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Leo Joseph and Anna Elizabeth (Shust) Reagan. She married Dr. Vernon William Bruch on Nov. 8, 1947, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Mt. Olive by Father Charles Knapereck, and he preceded her in death on Aug. 30, 2006.
She attended Holy Trinity Grade School and graduated from Mt. Olive High School with the class of 1942. She then attended St. Louis Business College in St. Louis, graduating in 1943.
Mrs. Bruch was a life member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, now known as St. John Paul II in Mt. Olive. She was also a member of The Altar & Rosary Society.
She was employed by Henrichs Publications in Litchfield for several years and later worked for the state of Illinois Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Her last employment was the administration department for Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro, retiring in December 1990.
Mrs. Bruch served on the Board of 1st Senior Citizen Housing Project and was a past member of the Delta Tau Sorority. She enjoyed bowling in Schoppies woman's league and was a Pinochle Club member. She loved movies with her friend, Esther, and was an avid reader.
She is survived by two daughters, Camilla Granger of Lakewood, CO, and Nadine (Jim) Scheller of Hillsboro, OR; son, Greg (Joyce) Bruch of Mt. Olive; sister, Audrey Reagan of Orlando, FL; brother-in-law, Lloyd Schwarz of Edwardsville; eight grandchildren, Christopher (Jennifer) Scheller, Philip Scheller, Reagan (Jeff) Geddes, Kristen Bruch, John (Tiffany) Bruch, Austin Bruch, Jeremy Bruch and Annedria (Colby) Kennedy; and 13 great-grandchildren, Madison, Riley, Kayla, Bryan, Emily, Lillian, Connor, Nealon, Makayla, Taryn, Avery, Griffin and Carrson.
Besides her parents and husband, Mrs. Bruch was preceded in death by a sister, Sandy Reagan; and sister-in-law, Lois Schwarz.
Memorials may be made to the Mt. Olive Academic Foundation, Calvary Cemetery or Masses.
Condolences may be left at beckerandson.com.
