Mary Ellen Braendle

Mary Ellen Braendle, 81, of Madison, WI, formerly of Cambridge, died October 26, 2022, after a hard-fought battle with dementia.  Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. on November 13th (Sunday) at Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Services, 212 E Court St., Cambridge, IL.  Cremation has been accorded.  Private inurnment services will be held on Monday, November 14th, at the Rock Island National Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to the family or to a charity of your choice.

Mary Ellen Hayes was born January 27, 1941, in Chicago, IL, the firstborn daughter of Eleanor and Thomas Hayes.  Her childhood years were spent in Oak Park, IL where she graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School in 1958.  She went to work “in the city” for Lord, Bissel & Brooks as a secretary.  She was very proud of her exceptional shorthand and typing skills.  There she met her husband and the love of her life, Jim Braendle, who she married on August 19, 1961, in Forrest Park, Illinois.  He passed away on May 5, 2010.

She was the breadwinner while he completed law school.  In 1969, they moved to Cambridge where he joined the law firm that would ultimately become Telleen, Telleen, & Braendle, and she took care of the household and raising children.  She was involved with many organizations but enjoyed her time as a Valley Viewer the most.  She was an excellent golfer, winning numerous events and even earning a hole-in-one.

Mary Ellen loved traveling with her husband and friends throughout the years, and then later, her annual trip to Mexico Beach in the Florida panhandle with Jim:  her husband, golf partner and best friend.  She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and grand-dogs.  She was an excellent cook and passed many recipes on to her family.  She enjoyed cooking for others, and entertaining.  Her Kentucky Derby parties were enjoyed by many.

Those surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Mike Huggett, Madison, WI, a son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Kathy Braendle, Cambridge, and four grandchildren, Leah and Dana Huggett, and Kara and Kacey Braendle.  Other survivors include two sisters, Patricia Fa’atuai and Cathy Kehoe, and a brother James Hayes.  Her husband and mother preceded her in death.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.stackhousemoore.com.