Wilma Louise (Frey) Karcher, 89, passed away on January 7th, 2021 in Mount Vernon, Illinois. She was the fifth of seven children born to William S. and Louisa (Herzing) Frey. After completing grade school at Saint John the Baptist Catholic School, she worked at a local McCleansboro restaurant in exchange for room and board, which afforded her the opportunity to attend and graduate McLeansboro High School in 1950. Afterward, Wilma worked in the retail furniture business in McLeansboro and Decatur until she married Edwin W. Karcher on March 31, 1964, at Saint Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mount Vernon. Wilma transitioned to a homemaker for Edwin and his sons, Roger and Michael. Ed and Wilma later had a daughter, Teresa (Karcher) Kulinowski. Wilma was a devout Catholic throughout her life and generously offered her time to others, often serving as an officer in several organizations, including Saint Mary’s School PTA, Saint Mary’s Pastoral Council, and local and regional Councils of Catholic Women. She was an excellent cook and, for decades, could be found working the Saint Mary’s kitchen for annual craft bazaars, picnics, school fundraisers and hundreds of funeral lunches. She delivered Meals on Wheels in Mount Vernon for many years.
A Private Visitation will be held. A Rosary will be held Wednesday, January 13, 2021, at 9:30 am at Saint Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mount Vernon. The Funeral Mass will begin at 10:00 am with Father John Iffert and Father Nick Junker officiating. The mass will be live-streamed via Saint Mary Church for all to watch. Interment will follow at Saint Mary Cemetery in Mount Vernon. Memorials may be made in Wilma’s honor to the Saint Mary Church Building Fund or Meals on Wheels. Please remember to observe social distancing at this time. We are limited to 10 people in our building at a time. Following the CDC and NFDA regulations, we encourage everyone to wear a mask. They will be made available, upon request. Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
She is survived by her children, Roger and wife, Quetta, of Marion, Illinois, Michael and wife, Sue, of Dahlgren, Illinois, and Teresa and husband, Alex, of Mechanicsville, Virginia; grandchildren, Krista Harbaugh of Bloomington, Illinois, Kyle Karcher of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Jason Brown of Amelia Island, Florida, Loran Karcher of Omaha, Illinois, Maggie O’Daniel of McLeansboro, Illinois, Katie Karcher of Benton, Illinois, Aaron Kulinowski of Verona, Wisconsin, and Caleb Kulinowski of Mechanicsville, Virginia; great-grandchildren, Noah, Justin, Stella, Harvey, Kash, Kruz, Drew, and Kade; sisters-in-law, Monica, Roseanna, and Helen; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Wilma was born on November 13, 1931, in Piopolis, Illinois, a small village north of McLeansboro. Wilma was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years; one grandchild; and her siblings, Eugene Frey, Marie Karcher, Alice Puskarich, Leo Frey, Leland Frey, and William P. Frey.
