Obituary EAST PEORIA - Mary Ellen Van Acker, 66 of East Peoria, died at 4:10 pm Monday, January 18, 2010 at her home. Mary Ellen accepted her lung cancer as part of God's plan and remained a teacher to the end, showing all who knew her, how to die with grace. She never saw the darkness of her illness and looked forward to the bright light knowing she was in God's hands. She was born on January 27, 1943 in Kewanee, IL to Peter James and Mabel Irene Billiet Van Acker. Surviving are 1 brother, Lynn (Jill) Van Acker of Princeton, IL, 1 nephew, Brian Van Acker of Chicago, 1 niece Natalie (Brandon) Robbins of Fishers, IN, 1 great-niece, Allison, and a special friend and caregiver, Gail Jacobs of East Peoria, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant brother, Gale Anthony. Mary Ellen was a teacher at Norwood Primary School District #63 in Bellevue, retiring in 2006 after 37 years. After retirement, she continued to work at the school as a remedial reading assistant. She was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church in Morton, where a funeral mass will be at 11 am Friday, January 22, 2010. Father Mark DeSutter will officiate. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm Thursday, January 21, 2010 at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington, where a rosary will begin at 6:45 pm. Additional visitation will be a half hour prior to the mass. A committal service will follow the mass at Meadow Valley Center in Washington, with cremation rites to follow. Burial of cremated remains will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Sheffield, IL at a later date. Visitation JAN 22. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church 233 East Greenwood Street Morton, IL, US Service JAN 22. 11:00 AM Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church 233 East Greenwood Street Morton, IL, US