Mary Lou Popelka Tolly

Mary Lou Popelka Tolly , age 69, was reunited with her husband in heaven on July 3, 2018. She was born August 28, 1948 in Belleville, Kansas. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Ernest (Jim) Mason Tolly, her mother and father Henry and Irene Popelka and siblings Anna Mae Johnson, Geralyn LaGuire, Henry Popelka Jr., Thomas Popelka and Judy Popelka. She is survived by her children, Diane Morgan and husband Scott, James Tolly and wife Mindy, and Karen Tolly. She leaves behind 3 grandchildren, Avery Parker, Connor Tolly and Caleb Tolly, sisters, Jane Raney (Raymond) and Alice Majkzrak, and two one of a kind and once in a lifetime friends, Marianne Bailey and Shirley Rousey. Mary was loved, is missed, and will always be cherished. She was first and foremost dedicated to her family. She was Mom to her children, Grandma Mary to her grandchildren, Mary Lou to family and Mary to friends. Mary was caring person who was loved not only by family but by her dear friends and former patients. Raising her children was Mary's first career. When her children reached school age and began attending elementary, she began working as a teacher's aide at the school they attended, Lee Elementary in Springdale where she was able to continue to keep a close eye on them. Mary's husband of 24 years, Jim, died in 1990. After his passing, she went back to school while simultaneously raising her 3 children and working at Springdale Memorial Hospital as a nursing assistant. She graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse at the age of 42 from NTI where she remained an active board member for many years. Mary was a nurse for 25 years, During her career she cared for patients at Washington Regional Medical Center, Northwest Arkansas Urology Clinic, and Hedberg Allergy and Asthma. Mary's last job was her most important and that was being a Grandma and spending time with her grandchildren. Her influence and love as Grandma Mary will carry on in the hearts of her grandchildren whom she cherished and adored. Her loved ones will never eat a cinnamon roll, kolaches, oatmeal chewy chocolate chip cookies or piece of angel food cake without thinking of her. Mary loved her family, friends and patients and they all loved her. A visitation will take place on Sunday, July 8 from 3 p.m. to 5 .p.m at Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale. A rosary will follow the visitation staring at 5 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, July 9 at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Springdale starting at 10 a.m. with Father John Connell officiating. Burial will follow at the Fayetteville National Cemetery at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial in her name to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or Circle of Life Hospice. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.siscofuneral.com.