Nancy G. Conlon

October 11, 1957 - October 11, 2016

Mattoon, IL – Nancy G. Conlon, age 59, of Mattoon, IL, passed away at 7:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 11, 2016, her birthday, at her residence. The funeral service in her honor will begin at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 15, 2016, at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938. Father Mark Evans will officiate. Internment will take place at a later date. Visitation will be held at the funeral home, Friday evening from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Born October 11, 1957, in Normal, IL, Nancy was the daughter of Robert and Joanne (Hoyt) Greve. She married Steven J. Conlon on October 20, 1978, in Bloomington, IL. She is survived by her loving husband, Steve, who resides in Mattoon, IL; Her mother, Joanne Gehlbach of Elkhart, IL; Two children, Megan Kelly and husband Jarett of Springfield, IL, and Paul Conlon of Mattoon, IL; Three sisters, Jane Jermac and husband Ken of Chapin, SC, Susan Diggle and husband David of Germantown Hills, IL, and Greta Gribkoff and husband Val of Wallingford, CT. She leaves four nieces, four nephews, one great niece, and one great nephew. She was preceded in death by her father. Nancy earned a Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University and a Master’s degree from Southern Illinois University. A beloved first grade teacher at Riddle Elementary School, she had just started her 32nd year of teaching at Mattoon Community Unit School District 2. Through the years, she had taught at Riddle, Lincoln and Franklin schools. Prior to working as a teacher, she was a technology coordinator in the district and had been a library aide and a kindergarten aide. In the words of her co-workers, she will be “remembered as a vibrant, friendly, creative teacher who diligently motivated her classes to perform their best work. She was a master at fusing fun with education and continually searched for projects that would inspire student learning not just for the moment but for a lifetime of thoughtful discovery.” Her love for teaching and admiration of her students was always evident. Although Nancy valued her students and coworkers, her family was the center of her life. She looked forward to her approaching retirement and the ability to focus on her family and spend more time with each of them. She was a devoted and loving wife and a wonderful mother who took pride in supporting her family in all their activities. Nancy loved being a mother and it showed. Nancy was thoughtful and generous; talented with crafts and baking, especially cookies; and enjoyed sharing her gifts with others as much as she enjoyed making them. For the last few years, Nancy had given much of her free time to care for her mother. During this time, she took the opportunity to attend the Trinity Episcopal Church in Lincoln, IL. Nancy was a former member of the Delta Theta Tau, a member of the Illinois Education Association, and the National Education Association. Memorials in her honor may be made to the Nancy Conlon Scholarship Fund, c/o Mattoon Board of Education Office, 1701 Charleston Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938. Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in her honor or share a memory with her family.