Melba Marie Short, nee Seibold, age 93, of Swansea, formerly of Belleville, born June 23, 1917 in Red Bud, Ill., died Friday evening, January 21, 2011.

Mrs. Short was raised in Red Bud and married William Charles Short on May 24, 1949. She attended St. Teresa Catholic Church in Belleville for years. She enjoyed sewing, crafts, making dolls, flower gardening, dancing, and playing the piano. She was an independent woman, a devoted wife and mother and was proud of her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband on May 26, 1982, her parents William and Mary, nee DeRousse, Seibold, her brother Clyde Seibold, her sister Leonora Kaffai and brother-in-law, Erwin Kaffai.

Mrs. Short is survived by her son, William R. Short and wife, Kathy; grandchildren, Bryan (Tara) Short, and Becky Short, all of O'Fallon; and great-grandson, Bryson Short. Also surviving are her nieces Connie (Don) Heinle of Marion, Karen Ploeger of New York, Nancy Ploeger of New York; and nephew, Michael (Eileen) Seibold of Red Bud; and sister-in-law Beulah Seibold of Red Bud.

Memorial donations in honor of Mrs. Short may be made to St. Nicholas Catholic Church Building Fund and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Visitation: Friends may call from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon.

Funeral: Funeral Service will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at the funeral home with Rev. William J. Hitpas officiating. Burial will follow at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Red Bud, Ill.