Mary C. (Baran) Norene

Mary C. (Baran) Norene, 81, passed away on August 05, 2023, at Hillsboro Area Hospital in Hillsboro, IL.

Mary was born on February 27, 1942, in Hillsboro, but grew up in Taylor Springs, to parents Edward and Ann Marie (Brown) Baran. After graduating from Hillsboro High School in 1959 where she stared in several musicals, Mary went to school at Browns Business College in St. Louis. With this degree, she went on to become a legal secretary and eventually worked for a hospital in Maryland. Mary married Thomas Short and together they had two children. Michael Short, their first son, was born in Hillsboro, Illinois and later moved to Cheverly, Maryland where they welcomed their second son, David Short. Mary and Thomas later divorced. She went on to marry William “Bill” Norene on August 27, 1980, and they eventually moved to Hadlyme, Connecticut. Mary became involved in the TOPS organization in Connecticut where she served as an officer for 33 years. Also while in Connecticut, Mary became involved in healthcare and obtained her Certified Nursing Assistants license. Once she and Bill returned to Hillsboro in 1998, she began working for Litchfield Healthcare and Continuing Recovery Center in Irving.

Mary is survived by a grandchild, Christina Short of Connecticut, and her brother, former Hillsboro Mayor, William "Bill" Baran of Hillsboro. Besides her husband, Mary was preceded in death by her children, Michael T. Short, David Short, and stepchildren Wendy Norene and David Norene.

A memorial service for Mary will take place on August 12, 2023, following the visitation. Visitation is from 12:30 – 2:00 P.M. at Hough and Sons Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Rev. Randy Sands and Pastor Jerry Woods will be officiating.

Memorials may be made out to Bluff Cemetery or the First United Pentecostal Church in Hillsboro.

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