Mary Virginia "Jinny" Tuetken

Mary Virginia “Jinny” Tuetken, 82, died Tuesday, February 11, 2025, with her family by her side after a short but valiant battle with cancer. Born August 28, 1942, in St. Louis, MO, she was the daughter of Frank and Mary (Coy) Dwyer. Surviving is a daughter, Alison Stansberry (Mike) of Stratford, CT; a son, Jonathan Tuetken (Jessica) of Godfrey; and six grandchildren, Ryan, Madelyn, and Luke Stansberry, and Alex, Nik, and Cora Tuetken. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by Allen Tuetken and four brothers, Fran, Bob, Chuck, and Jim Dwyer. Jinny grew up in St. Louis City and attended Incarnate Word High School. Following in the footsteps of her mother and aunts, she pursued higher education, graduated from college, and earned a master’s degree from Mizzou. She began her career as the head of public relations at St. Elizabeth's Hospital and continued on that path, working at Ralston Purina, Analysts International, and Skeleton Key tech firm. Jinny concluded her professional journey at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, where she held various roles, with her favorite being the tour guide on the tram. Jinny lived in many hot spot St. Louis neighborhoods, finding the best coffee shops and bookstores in each. Jinny’s love of coffee was only second to her love for friends and family. Jinny had a love for fashion, movies, art, photography, and books. A true movie buff, she was the first among her friends to catch the latest releases, and they counted on her for her reviews. She loved true crime, a passion she shared with her daughter. Jinny's support for the arts was evident in her enthusiastic shopping and sharing of treasured finds. She loved to take photos, capturing the beauty of landscapes, architecture, nature, and people. She was an avid reader and generously volunteered as a literary helper at both LCCC and local grade schools. Jinny was also a sports lover. She was a devoted supporter of her grandchildren's sporting events and a loyal fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Mizzou Basketball, and the St. Louis Rams. Jinny touched the lives of many people. She was a dedicated mentor and advocate for recovery for more than 30 years. Through her dedication, she found a second family who loved and cherished her deeply. She treasured the time spent with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren, traveling to Connecticut for summers and holidays. Summers were filled with joyful days by the pool and visits to local landmarks, with the Yale bookstore being a particular favorite. Jinny’s dedication to others, knowledge of the world, and the joy she brought to everyone who knew her will be deeply missed. A visitation will be from 10:00 AM until time of memorial mass at 11:00 AM, on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 519 E 4th Street, Alton, IL. Memorials may be made to the Oasis Women’s Center in Alton. Gent Funeral Home in Alton is in charge of arrangements. Online guestbook and information may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com.

Tributes

Mary Virginia "Jinny" Tuetken

August 28, 1942 - February 11, 2025