Mary Jean Maxwell

Jean Maxwell, 89, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on August 20th, 2025. Jean was born Mary Jean Wearmothe on August 5, 1936 to Matthew and Alberta (Leifker) Wearmothe. Right out of high school on August 5, 1955, she married the love of her life Gilbert Cederholm. They built a loving life together with focus on their faith and family, which brought forth 3 children: David, Kristine, and Daniel. God was the center of her home and she carried that throughout the entirety of her life. She always thought of others before herself. Barely reaching 5-feet-tall, Mary Jean was small but mighty. She loved to travel and went everywhere fast, from rollerskating the hills of her early childhood Galena home to riding in the rumble seat of her father’s car when she was a teen in Rockford, to driving pedal-down on the country roads in her Cadillac or Lincoln as an adult. She showed up to as many events as possible to support family and friends, always dressed in her beloved bold prints and large clip-on earrings and the most fashionable shoes. Her kindness was felt by family, friends and neighbors as she always showed up with a homemade dish of Swedish meatballs, stuffed peppers, cookies or some “find” from a store, garage or estate sale just because that item “looked like you.” Jean worked all sorts of jobs throughout her life, but they always involved a servant’s heart and being with people. For instance, she worked tirelessly from a teenager at nursing homes and restaurants like the Shannon Cafe and even her own Cardinal Cafe in Forreston which she owned in the late 80’s. She moved many times from farmhouses to cozy places in town and loved to decorate, always with a new theme like apples, owls, sunflowers, or roosters. She kept the Lord close to her heart and sang in church alongside her family for decades. She survived the hardship of losing her first husband (Gilbert Cederholm) at his young age of 38, but opened her heart to two more marriages and families, treating these extended families as her own.

Jean is survived by her family with Gilbert; daughter: Kristine (Dean) Hemmersbach of Valparaiso IN, and son Daniel (Barbara) Cederholm Sr of Forreston IL. Grandchildren: Leah (John) Pagone, Daniel (Staley) Cederholm Jr, Brandon (Natalie) Cederholm, Christopher (Chelsey) Cederholm, Amanda (Justin) Johnson, Martin Hemmersbach, Sarah Hemmersbach. Great Grandchildren: Sam Cederholm, Hannah (Spencer Cruthis) Cederholm, Zach Cederholm, Gage Cederholm, Mia Pagone, Cooper Johnson, Roma Pagone, Amos Cederholm, June Cederholm. And Great-Great Granddaughter Layla Cruthis.

Jean is survived by her sisters Rosemary Crawford and Diane (Ed) Holland, sister-in-law Joan Cederholm, and many nieces and nephews.

Jean is also survived by her family with Craig, stepson: Shawn (Dee) Groen, and stepdaughter: Shelby (Curt) Johnson.

Jean is survived by her family with Jim: stepsons: Kenny, and Barry Maxwell and stepdaughter: Janet (Brian) Cunningham. Grandchildren: Travis (Allison) Cunningham and Jacob Cunningham. Great Grandchildren: Colton and Lydia Cunningham.

Jean is preceded in death by her father Matthew and mother Alberta, all 3 of her husbands: Gilbert, Craig, and Jim. Her son: David Cederholm and stepson: Randy Maxwell. Her half-brothers and sisters in law: Ron (Rose) Spillane, Bob (LaVonne) Spillane, James Spillane, Barry (Janet) Spillane, and Joe Spillane. Her brothers-in-laws and sisters-in-laws: Kenneth Crawford, Einar Cederholm, Marty (Judy) Cederholm. As well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Tuesday August 26, 2025 at Faith Lutheran Church in Forreston, IL, Rev. Scott Ralston officiating.  A visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. until the time of service.  There will also be a visitation from 4:00-7:00 P.M. Monday August 25, 2025 at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home in Forreston, IL.  Burial will be in Arlington Memorial Park in Rockford, IL.  A memorial has been established in Mary Jean's memory.