Mary “Nonnie” Raso, 96, of Herrin, IL, died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, January 12, at St. Anthony Health Care in Lafayette, IN.  Mary was born October 12, 1927, In Makanda, IL, to John C. and Winifred Allen Biggs.

She spent most of her life in Southern Illinois and worked as a registered nurse well into her 70’s.  Mary was always generous, sometimes mischievous and deeply spiritual.  Her greatest joy was her family, including her beloved husband, Anthony J. Raso, M.D., who preceded her in death in 1982.

The couple met in St. Louis where she was studying nursing and he was studying medicine.  They married in 1948 and had two children, David Raso and Phyllis Raso Veach.  They ran a family medical practice in Herrin.  Mary also worked in labor and delivery at Holden Hospital in Carbondale, IL, later at Carbondale Memorial Hospital and as Director of Nursing at a home for developmentally disabled residents.  She enjoyed spending time with family, including visits with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, road trips to Civil War historical sites with her cousins and graduation celebration trips around the world with her grandchildren.  She loved dogs.

Mary is survived by her son, David (Jayne) Raso of Pineville, LA; daughter, Phyllis, of West Lafayette, IN; former son-in-law, John Veach, of West Lafayette; Cousin, Jane Cox, of Makanda; nieces, Barbara Dillow of Cape Girardeau, MO and Karen Biggs of Oak Ridge, MO; nephew, Bobby Biggs, of Carbondale.  Grandchildren:  Michael Raso of New Orleans, LA; Julie Veach (Roger Colinvaux) of Washington, DC; Aaron (Meredith) Veach, Adam Veach and AJ Veach (Sundeep Peswani) of West Lafayette; Andrew (Ellyse Fenton) Veach of Kobylnica, Poland; and Anthony (Andrea) Veach of Austin, TX; as well as six great-grandchildren, Lewis and Koby Colinvaux and Nathan, Logan, Tyler and Addison Veach.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, brothers John, Clinton, Jim, Bill and twin brother, Harry; and cousin Phoebe Cox.

Soller-Baker Funeral Home is handling the cremation and the family will scatter her ashes in places she loved in Southern Illinois according to her wishes.  There will be no funeral service.  A mass will be celebrated at a later date at St. Anthony’s in Lafayette.  Donations may be made in her honor to a local animal shelter.