Fairbury – Mary Ellen Nylander, 90, of Fairbury, passed away at 7:15pm, November 17, 2018, at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.

Her funeral will be held at 10:00am, Wednesday, November 21, 2018, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairbury. Pastor Tom Krieger will be officiating.

Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury.

Visitation will be held from 4-8:00pm, Tuesday, November 20,2018, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and one hour prior to services on Wednesday.

Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, South Eastern Livingston County Ambulance Service, or Alzheimer's Association.

Mary Ellen was born December 19, 1927, in Fairbury, the daughter of Edward and Amelia Metz Zimmerman.

She married Wendell Nylander on July 27, 1947, in Chenoa. He passed away September 4, 1994.

Surviving are her daughter Peggy Jean (Richard) Peterson of Brenham, TX; grandchildren, Melissa (Jeff) Nagel of Fairbury, Jeff (Kristi) Story of TN, Ben Peterson and Jimmi Peterson both of TX, Tara (Mike) Norris of Fairbury, and Chris Bivens of KY; 15 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Carol Nylander of Chicago; son -in-law, Jim Story of White House, TN; and sister, Arlene Walter of Fairbury.

She was preceded in death by her parents, son, Butch Nylander; daughter, Barb Story; grandson, Nathan Nylander; three brothers and four sisters.

Mary Ellen owned and operated Nylander's Flowers and Gifts in Fairbury for 13 years.

She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairbury where she was member of and co-president of many organizations and a Sunday school teacher for 20 years.

Mary Ellen was named Citizen of the Year in 2000.