Susan E. Zeller, 80, of rural New Douglas, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at 7:40 a.m. surrounded by family and friends.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, Aug. 3, beginning at 11 a.m. at Salem Cemetery in Alhambra with Pastor Ron Habermehl of Alpha and Omega Church officiating. A Celebration of Life, as well as a luncheon, will follow at the New Douglas Senior Center located at 209 South Main Street. The Lesicko Funeral Home of Livingston is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Zeller was born Feb. 7, 1939, in St. Louis, MO, to Courtney L. Braswell and Dorothy M. (Rosenstengel) Braswell Kloss. She married Edward H. Zeller on Sept. 16, 1953, at United Church of Christ in Grantfork, and he preceded her in death.
She attended Belleville Area Community College from 1981 to 1986, and Lewis and Clark Community College from 1986 to 1989, earning her AAS Library Technology Degree in the summer of 1989. After a brief employment at Basler Electric in Highland, she served as a tutor in the Adult Literacy Program at Belleville Area College. She also worked as a librarian for Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, from 1991 to 1999.
Mrs. Zeller loved collecting anything and everything, and redoing old trunks. She gave new life to old Barbie dolls, then donated them to exploited children, Appalachian Mountains, Lions Club and other organizations. She contributed to First Baptist Church in Alhambra and "We Stand In The Gap" in Sorento.
She will be truly missed by all who knew her.
Mrs. Zeller is survived by her sons, John (Mary Jo) Zeller of Panama and Jerry (Rita) Zeller of Livingston; a daughter, Jackie (Robert II) Bone of Sorento; grandchildren, Joni Zeller and Nina (Paul) Whiteside of Sorento, Dana Thomas of Panama, Zana Bone of New Douglas, Bret Zeller and Brooke Zeller, both of Livingston, and Beth Zeller of Smithton; great-grandson, Edward (Eddie) Zeller of Sorento; aunt, Kathryn Mittelstetter of New Douglas; brothers, James (Jan) Braswell of Bowie, MD, William (Jan) Braswell of Marine and Lynn (Diana) Braswell of Maumelle, AR; sister, Trilby (Wes) Leech of Cummings, GA; sister-in-law, Delores Braswell of Highland; and her nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, JoAnn Zeller; and a brother, Richard Braswell.
Memorials may be directed to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 4400 Clayton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.lesickofuneralhome.com.
