Evelyn Mary Schweppe Brake, age 78, of Collinsville, passed away Thursday, January 8 at Anderson Hospital in Maryville. A funeral mass for 78 year old Evelyn Mary Schweppe Brake will be Monday, January 12 at noon at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Collinsville. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Highland. Friends may call Sunday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Irwin Chapel in Glen Carbon and again Monday from 11:00 a.m. to service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School or in the form of masses.
She was born November 2, 1936 in Highland, Illinois, a daughter of the late Otto and Laura (Jakel) Bircher.
She married Lester W. Schweppe Sr. on April 26, 1958, later divorcing and he passed away on November 19, 2008.
She then married Walter “Bucky” Brake on November 20, 1996 and he passed away on June 18, 2009.
She retired from McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis after 20 years of dedicated services in the office.
She was a member of the United Transportation Union Auxiliary. She was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Greenville and formerly of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Collinsville.
She was very devoted and faithful to her faith and her children and grandchildren, always praying for others and reciting the rosary. She enjoyed her days of sewing, reading and working puzzles and will be remembered for the love and special times shared with her family and friends.
She is survived by six children and their spouses, Mark and Stephanie Schweppe of Collinsville, Barbara and Chuck Heinzl of Swansea, Lester Schweppe Jr. of Belleville, Roger and Deborah Schweppe of Shubuta, Mississippi, Ron Schweppe of Caseyville and Sandy and Tim O’Keefe of Collinsville; three step-children and their spouses, Mike and Debbie Brake of Collinsville, Rhonda and Tim Stennett of Collinsville and Karen and Dan Frey of Troy; fifteen grandchildren, Alissa, Jamie, Eric and his wife, Katie, Kyle, Adam, Jonathan, Bryan, Angel, Jo-Lynn, Laura, Victoria, Harold, Darius, Shyla and Ericka; many great grandchildren; step-grandchildren; step-great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Willis “Red” Jennings of Colorado Springs, Colorado; other extended family and friends.
Our beloved mother and grandmother will forever be missed and never forgotten.
In addition to her husbands and parents, she was preceded in death by her twin sister, Elva Jennings; a brother, Duane Bircher and two daughters-in-law, Patricia Schweppe and Carla Schweppe.
