Phyllis Ruth Aydt, age 75, resident of Cedarhurst of Shiloh, formerly of O'Fallon, born February 3, 1939 in Hamilton County, Ill., died Monday, March 31, 2014 following a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Ms. Aydt was an elementary school teacher in Cahokia public schools from 1961 until her retirement. She was a long-time volunteer at Christian Activity Center in East St. Louis and the Granite City soup kitchen. Her mission work throughout the United States inspired many friends and showed her passion for serving the poor. She was a Sunday School teacher in the Baptist church, and her bubbly personality brought life and sunshine to those around here. She was a big fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Rams. She was known as the "Mayor" of Cedarhurst, where she loved the staff and many friends and neighbors there.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Alma, née Tolley, Aydt, brother Linus "Sonny" Aydt, sister Betty Stephens, and brother-in-law Don Harris.

Surviving are her sister Alice Harris of Bluford, Ill., four nephews, three nieces, and a host of extended family and many special friends.

Memorial donations are kindly suggested to Christian Activity Center or Alan P. Lyss, MD, Endowed Share Fund of Cancer Research c/o Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon.

Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 3, 2014, at the funeral home with Rev. Chet Cantrell officiating. Graveside Service will be at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, at Blooming Grove Cemetery, near McLeansboro, in Hamilton County, Ill.