Mary "Lou" Louise Siefken, age 89, of Hannibal, Missouri, passed from this life on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at Luther Manor Retirement and Nursing Center.  She was born on January 4, 1935, in Shattuck, Oklahoma, the daughter of Henry R. and Mary Laura (Brosh) Siefken.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 11:30 am at Holy Name Catholic Church in Shattuck, OK, and burial will follow at the Shattuck Memorial Cemetery of Oklahoma.  Father Cristobal de Loera will officiate the services.

Local arrangements are being handled by the Shaw Funeral Home in Shattuck.

During her youth, Mary Lou grew up on the family farm in Shattuck, along with her brother Robert and her sister Clara Faye.  Riding horseback to herd the cattle was one of her favorite chores.

Mary Lou graduated from Shattuck High School in 1953.  She then lived at Maryville Missouri Convent as a religious sister, studying nursing.  Several years later she left the convent and finished her nursing training in Missouri.  She worked for over 50 years in the field of nursing in the Hannibal region, as an RN, working at Levering Hospital for many years, also serving as Director of Nursing and Assistant Director of Nursing at several nursing homes, in addition to teaching CNA classes and administering testing to CNA's.

Her favorite past-times included raising home grown vegetables in her garden, and riding her lawn mower, as she loved being outdoors.  She was also an excellent seamstress and enjoyed crafts of many types.

She is survived by her two nieces, Anne Marie Siefken and Dr. Theresa Lynne (Greg) Currier; two nephews, Edward Robert Siefken and James Brian (Valerie) Siefken; four great-nephews: Nathan Edward (Miriam) Siefken, Matthew Bryan Cousineau, Michael Steven (Aichurek) Cousineau, Brian Patrick Siefken; one great-niece, Kathryn Michelle Siefken; and many great-great-nieces and nephews; two dear friends, Joan Hamilton and Leroy Toalson, and many loved family members and friends.  She was always grateful for her dear neighbors, Lyle and Beth Todd.  In Shattuck, Mary Lou greatly valued the hard work, support and friendship given to the Siefken Family by Randy Holley.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Mary (Brosh) Siefken; her brother, Robert Eugene Siefken, her sister, Clara Faye Siefken, her sister (in-law), Virginia Ruth (Bishop/Siefken) Noyes, and two dear friends, Olive and Henrietta Toalson.

The Pallbearers will be James Siefken, Edward Siefken, Randy Holley, Greg Currier, and Matthew Cousineau.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ladies' Guild of Holy Name Church in Shattuck.