Mary Margaret Avelis

Mary Margaret Avelis (née Ulm) passed away on August 2, 2024, after a short illness.

She was born August 7, 1946, in Frankfort, IN, the daughter of Robert G. Ulm and Lucile Hiett Ulm.

She attended grade school at St. Mary’s School in Frankfort, and high school at St. Augustine Academy in Cleveland, OH. She graduated from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN, with a degree in Secondary Education in 1969. In that same year, she married John Avelis, Jr. of Terre Haute, IN.

She is survived by her husband John; her three children: John (Ruth Galvez) of Montclair, VA; Diana (Trevor Holland) of Alexandria, VA; and Robert (Tina) of Lakesite, TN; her seven grandchildren: Annabelle, Theodore, Aaron, Benjamin, Eleanor, Emmeline, and Charlotte; her three brothers: James Ulm of Boerne, TX; Gregory (Denise) Ulm of Fishers, IN; and Patrick (Angie) Ulm of Columbus, IN; and a full cohort of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother Thomas Ulm of Mobile, AL, his wife Reba, and James’s wife, Jeanne.

She taught mathematics and computer literacy at Monticello CUSD #25; she worked at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign at the Fire Service Institute and at the College of ACES as a network analyst. She was an active member of St. Philomena’s Church in Monticello, teaching CCD, singing as a tenor in the choir, and was the cantor for Saturday afternoon mass. After moving to Champaign, she became a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, where she also sang in the choir and cantored. She was a volunteer at the Champaign Public Library.

She is remembered as a wonderful wife and devoted mother, grandmother, aunt, godmother, sister, and friend.

A Memorial Mass is scheduled for Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 11:00 AM CDT, Holy Cross Church, Champaign, IL.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Cross School, the children’s programs at your local public library, or the American Cancer Society.

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