Mary Alice (Burgess) Corbin

Mary Alice (Burgess) Corbin passed away on February 19, 2026 at her home in Benton surrounded by family at the age of 82.  Services will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with a visitation at 11:30am, service at 12:00pm, burial at Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery thereafter; and followed with a luncheon at New Hope Baptist Church in Benton.  

Mary Corbin was born on July 23, 1943.  She was the youngest child born to Richard and Flossie (Lampley) Burgess.  She grew up in rural Benton, where she enjoyed singing and attending New Hope Baptist church.  Mary developed an unwavering faith and placed her salvation in Jesus. She attended Grant school where unbeknownst to her a fellow student in her third grade class would become her husband!  After graduation from Benton Consolidated High School in 1961, she was set up on a blind date with Ronald Dean Corbin.   They married on April 26, 1963.  Shortly thereafter, they moved to Geneva, Illinois and then to West Chicago, Illinois.  They celebrated 62 years of marriage and raised two daughters, Rhonda and Karla.

Mary poured herself into homemaking.   She was a room mom at her daughters’ school, and a Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church of West Chicago.  She began decorating cakes and crocheting.  Both hobbies blessed many family members with unforgettable birthday cakes and beautiful crocheted blankets.  Her home was always decorated for the various seasons and holidays.  She made Christmas a magical experience for those she loved.  Her home has been described as a “warm hug”.  What a blessing to those who passed through the front door and felt her love, the comfort of a listening ear and often a delicious home-cooked meal.

In the 1970s, Mary began working outside the home. She was hired at Burgess Norton Manufacturing Company of Geneva, Illinois.  In a few short years she worked her way up to becoming their first female foreman. Mary and Ron later moved to Oswego, Illinois for  several years.   While there Mary continued to pour herself into her expanded family including six grandchildren.   Mary was gracious, compassionate, stubborn, generous and extremely loving.  She was the heart of the family.

Upon retirement and after 42 years of living up north, they returned to Benton where they reconnected with childhood friends, extended family and their church family at New Hope Baptist Church.  She enjoyed exploring the Shawnee National Forest, growing various flowers in her yard, and spoiling the hummingbirds that came to visit.  She became a technology whiz with her smart phone.  Facebook was a favorite way for her to keep in touch with others.  Mary  (Maw-maw) was a natural night owl who was always available for a lengthy midnight call from college grandchildren.

Mary  is survived by her husband, Ronald Corbin of Benton, IL; her daughters, Rhonda (Jon) Schaper of Geneva, IL, Karla Corbin of Benton, IL; her grandchildren, Kayla (Eric) Vanderlinden, Kyle Suhr (and partner Clarissa Gutierrez), Max (Katy) Schaper, Raquel (Hugo) Acuna, Vince Schaper, Brianna Granger, her great granddaughter Hazel Vanderlinden and several beloved nieces and nephews. 

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Flossie Burgess, and her siblings, Leonard Burgess, William Burgess, Mildred Palmer, Martha Tripp and infant siblings Robert and Ralph.   

Please visit our interactive website at www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com/listings where you may leave condolences and share memories for Mary’s family on the Tribute Wall.

Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

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