Mary L. Ambrosia

Mary L. Ambrosia, age 70, of Elizabeth, IL, was peacefully called home to her Lord and Savior on December 15, 2024, while at home surrounded by her loving family. To honor Mary’s life, a Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 21, 2024, at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 411 West Catlin Street in Elizabeth, IL, with Pastor Mike Nesbit officiating. Family and friends of Mary are invited to join in fellowship from 9:00-11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the church. A private family burial will be at the Woodbine Cemetery at a later date. The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Mary’s family.

Mary was born on March 25, 1954, in Freeport, IL, one of eleven children to William F. and Mary M. “Mac” (Meyerhofer) Knauer. She was undeniably gifted with a love for family and friends, a devotion to her faith, and an unwavering allegiance to all that is good in this world.  Mary was united in marriage to her soul-mate, Joseph Ambrosia, on August 31, 1975, at St. Paul Lutheran Church. She always found great pride in the fact that her family played a very intricate role in the building and development of St. Paul Lutheran Church and now the family of her own would follow right in those earlier footsteps. Mary was a lifetime member of St. Paul’s and faithfully lived the life of a servant in her 70 years among us. She sang in the church choir, taught Sunday school, was the children’s choir director, helped with vacation Bible school, was a director for the Christmas program and also held the position of President of the Ladies Guild for a time. Mary’s heart was truly devoted in her ministry of service to her Lord and her faith community. Her discipleship was truly through action.

Mary was also talented when it came to finance. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree and soon found that her skills fit perfectly as a tax advisor and preparer. Mary gratefully invested her time and talents with the Apple River State Bank for many years, but primarily owned and operated Mary’s Tax and Financial Services for over 35 years. She enjoyed her work and made countless friends along the way. Mary was also an avid baker and never passed up the opportunity to bless her family and those around her whenever possible. Her scotcheroos and cinnamon rolls were legendary and the world is truly a lesser place without her adding a little pinch of extra love into everything she made.

It’s with absolutely heavy laden and broken hearts that we must say farewell for now to our beloved Mary, but we know that her 14 ½ years of battling cancer so courageously was a battle that must end. She thankfully now resides in eternal perfection, free from all the evils of this temporal world and in that fact, we can find real peace.

Thank you, Mary, for always leading by example, never surrendering even when it would have been all so justified, and for leaving so much love and light in your midst that even the generations left to follow will be blessed in their lifetimes. May the Lord bless you and keep you until we all meet again and we hope the first words you heard this morning were “Well done, good and faithful Servant. You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord!”

Those left to cherish the memory of Mary include her loving husband of over 49 years, Joe Ambrosia, Elizabeth, IL; her three children, Jacob (Amanda) Ambrosia, Elizabeth, IL, Nichole Ambrosia, Elizabeth, IL, and Michael (Calista) Ambrosia, Kernersville, NC; her five grandchildren, Brecklyn, Bexley, Brixen, Aria, and Griff.

Her siblings Dale Knauer, Monroe, WI; Janet Roberts, Elizabeth, IL; Carole Busjahn, Cedarville, IL; Robert “Bob” Knauer, Yorkville, IL; Paul (Ruth) Knauer, Elizabeth, IL; Lyle Knauer, Kansas City, MO; sister-in-law Kathy (Heller) Knauer, Lacon, IL; Judy (Don) Kaufman, Winslow, IL; and James (Cheryl) Knauer, Elizabeth, IL; along with numerous extended family, friends, and neighbors.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, David Knauer; her sister and brother-in-law, Betty (Tom) Marcure; her sisters-in-law, Mary “Penny” Knauer, and Jennifer Knauer; and her brothers-in-law, Wendell Roberts, and Lewis Busjahn; her nieces, Trudy Knauer and LuAnn Jordan; and her great-nephews, Chris Knauer and Dustin Jordan.

In lieu of flowers, a Mary L. Ambrosia memorial fund has been established which will be distributed among her favorite charities.

Mary’s family would like to thank Dr. Mary Koenigs and her staff, along with the nurses and staff at Hospice of Dubuque for all of their professional and compassionate care.  A special thank you to Pastor Mike Nesbit at St. Paul Lutheran Church for his spiritual support and guidance.

Online condolences may be shared with Mary’s family at www.tristatecremationcenter.com