Laura Kilby Blaes

Laura A. Kilby Blaes, 63, of Waterloo, IL died on March 26, 2025, in St. Louis, MO. She was born June 29, 1961, in Bloomington, IL, daughter of Marilyn Kilby and Edward Harn.

Laura graduated from Murphysboro High School in Murphysboro, IL and continued her education at Illinois State University in Normal, IL. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1983 with a degree in Library Science Education.

Laura retired from the Belleville Public Library in June 2021 after a 37-year career in several libraries in Southern Illinois, including serving as librarian at Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo from 1984 to 1993. Her most gratifying achievements were her roles in the establishment of the public libraries in both Smithton and Germantown. Her greatest joy was “connecting people with information, one patron at a time.”

During her youth, Laura was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Murphysboro. She had also been active in the Teens Encounter Christ movement and the Newman Center at ISU, working closely with Campus Minister, Fr. Joe Kelly.

She is survived by her spouse, Cynthia Tesdall; mother, Marilyn Kilby formerly of Murphysboro; her best friend, Sr. Elaine Freund, ASC, of Waterloo; in-laws: Duane Tesdall, Kathy Tesdall, Bruce (Terri) Tesdall, Paul (Gail) Tesdall; half-siblings, Charles Harn and Diane Moore; nephews: Tony Atty, Zachary Harn, Travis James Tesdall, and Travis John Bradley; niece, Molly (Kenny) Johnson; great niece, Roselynn Tesdall; caregivers: Jane Vogt and Kim Nardoni; as well as many cousins, friends, library patrons, and her cats, ButterBean and CJ.

She was preceded in death by her father, Edward Thornton Harn; aunt, Anna Marie Harn; maternal grandparents, Harry and Mary (Riggio) Kilby; paternal grandparents, Eden Earl and Kimmie (Snuggs) Harn; mother-in-law, Patricia Tesdall; and her cats Muffin and Spencer, who brought her much joy over the years.

Memorial contributions in honor of Laura may be made to Smithton Public Library District, Germantown Public Library District, Parkinson Voice Project (parkinsonvoiceproject.org), or Peace UCC Freedom School (peaceuccstl.org).

Memorial Visitation:
9 AM to 12 PM Saturday, May 10, 2025 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, IL

Celebration of Life Mass:
12 PM Saturday, May 10, 2025 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, IL
Msgr. Dennis Schaefer presiding