Martha Franz
Martha Franz, 88, of Bloomington, passed away at 3:15 a.m. on Aug. 30 at her residence.
Martha was born on Oct. 18, 1927 in Mattoon, a daughter of Joseph Paul and Margaret Clavan Beall.
Surviving are her five sons, Joseph Smith III of Jacksonville, Fla.; Eric (Kathy) Franz of Goodfield; Ken (Mary) Franz of Granite City; John (Sue) Smith of Elburn; and Larry (Camille) Franz of Marvin, N.C.; two daughters, Ann (Russ) Helton of Shelbyville and Carla Bolek of Bloomington; sister, Mary Catherine Beall of Neoga; brother, Robert Beall of Chicago; 24 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Lucy Ellen Smith; and two brothers.
Her Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday at Epiphany Catholic Church in Normal with Fr. Eric Powell officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. with a Rosary from 9:30-10:00 a.m. prior to the mass at the church. Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Mattoon. Memorials may be made to Epiphany Catholic Church in Normal or OSF Hospice in Bloomington.
Martha was devoted to her Catholic faith and was involved with and enjoyed many activities at Epiphany Catholic Church. She was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society, was a Lector and Eucharistic minister. The time she spent in the Adoration Chapel offered her much peaceful pleasure.
She graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Urbana and kept her Registered Nursing license active until the last two years of her life.
Martha worked at Illinois Department of Public Aid for 30 years and part-time at Martin Health Center as a registered nurse for 19 years. Nursing always held a special place in her heart.
She loved to travel and traveled to five of the seven continents and all fifty states.
Martha was greatly loved and will be deeply missed.
Online condolences and memories of Martha may be left for the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.
Malaki Deavers
Malaki Dean Deavers, one month, of Bloomington passed away at 6:55 p.m. on Aug. 19 at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
Malaki was born on July 7, 2016 at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, a son to Angela Deavers and William Footman.
A Graveside Service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on =Sept. 1 at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington with Rev. Toby Carlos officiating. Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
Surviving are his parents, Angela Deavers and William Footman; a brother, Anthoney Deavers; maternal grandparents, Anita and Raymond Thrasher, and a paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Pano.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Online condolences may be left for the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.
Marifrances Thompson
Celebrated in death and life, Marifrances Thompson passed away Aug. 23 in Naperville.
Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bloomington with Fr. Greg Nelson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior at the church. Interment will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Bloomington. Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Eternal Word Television Network (www.ewtn.com) or the American Heart Association (www.heart.org).
Marifrances was born on New Year’s Eve 1919 in Bloomington, daughter of Frank X. Sr and Mary Ann Lee Glaser. She married her true love, Francis L. (Mike) Thompson.
Surviving is her beloved daughter and close companion, Angela Havel of Oswego; sister Dorothy Lockenvitz of Bloomington; granddaughters Haliana and Clarissa, and great grandchildren Annika, Grady and Bowen.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis L. (Mike) Thompson; her parents; sister, Madeline Walsh and brother, Frank X. Glaser, Jr.
In her own words, “faith, family, and fun” were the centers of life for Marifrances, an indomitable spirit beloved by family and friends. Known also as Mari, Mar, Gran, and then “GG”, she shepherded and doted over four generates of family.
Marifrances, the daughter of a conductor, eagerly explored the expanses of post-WWII America on the trains of GM&O Railways, returning home with her sisters and friends to help direct the loving cacophony of the “big house” on Grove Street–gathering family and heading early for good seats at St. Mary’s Catholic Church for Sunday mass.
Though her interests, energies, and enjoyment led her to work for many happy years as cashier in the Water Department for the City of Bloomington (until she retired at age 55) her passion was watching over her girls—exercising spirit and strong will through the development of her beloved granddaughters Haliana and Clarissa. Widowed in 1974, she moved to be with them in the Chicago area.
In the winter of life’s seasons, Marifrances continued to loudly teach about the strength of spirit while also quietly witnessing for the strength of faith. She never gave up watching over her girls and reveled in the arrival of the next generation—hugging close her great-granddaughter Annika, followed by great-grandsons Grady and Bowen.
We commit Marifrances Thompson’s soul to god, but hold her spirit, pride and love close to earth as a part of our hearts and minds.
Online condolences and memories of Marifrances may be left for the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.
Charles Whately
Charles William Whately, 86, Fairbury, died at 3:25 p.m. Aug. 29 at his residence, Fairbury.
A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew Catholic Church, Fairbury with Fr. Scott Archer officiating. Burial will be in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Fairbury with full military rites accorded by the Fairbury VFW and American Legion post.
Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury with a Rosary to be recited at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be given to St. Andrew Catholic Church, Fairbury or the Community Cancer Center, Normal.
Mr. Whately was born May 30, 1930 in Fairbury the son of Henry and Cecelia Streff Whately. He married Iva Jean Ferguson on Sept. 1, 1951. She died on Dec. 5, 2014.
Surviving are one daughter, Debbie (Otto) Cloudt, Chatsworth, two sons, Art (Patsy) Whately, Fairbury, and Mike (Beth) Whately, Mattawan, MI, six grandchildren and one great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by one brother.
Mr. Whately was a graduate of Fairbury Twp. High School. He served in the US Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany. He was employed at Honegger’s Feed Mill and later drove a school bus for the Prairie Central School District.
He was a member of the John Joda American Legion Post #54, St. Andrew Catholic Church and Indian Creek Country Club, all of Fairbury.
An online guest registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.
Barbara Whitmer
Barbara B. Whitmer, 80, passed away at 6:40 p.m. on Aug. 28 at Meadows Mennonite Nursing Home in Meadows, Illinois.
Her Memorial Service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday at Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington with Rev. Jim Warren officiating. A Celebration of Life immediately following at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington. In keeping with her wishes, there will be no visitation. Cremation rites have been accorded. An inurnment will be at a later date. Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
Memorials may be made in Barbara’s name to First Christian Church, 401 W. Jefferson, Bloomington, Ill. 61701-3899 or The Baby Fold, 612 Olgesby Ave, Normal, Ill. 61761
Barbara was born on May 27, 1936 in Chardon, Ohio, a daughter to Burdell and Thora Barber Bican. She married Tyler Whitmer on Decl 27, 1958 in Chardon, Ohio. He survives.
Surviving are her children, Paul (Karen) Sherman Whitmer of Lexington, IL and Lisa (Greg) Hermann of Chicago; two grandchildren, Patrick and Molly Mueller and Cody and CJ Stethers; sister, Joyce (Walter) Sargent of Chardon, Ohio; brother in-law, Peter Whitmer and sister in-law, Jean (Jack) Snyder, both of Bloomington and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Barbara graduated from Chardon High School during which time she was crowned Geauga County 4-H Queen. She graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1958 where she was a member of Sigma Kappa.
She taught school in Shaker Heights, OH and then in Dixon, Mo. while Ty was serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Leonard Wood. Upon returning to Bloomington, she worked at Illinois State University in the admission office. Barbara sold real estate for Hal Rist, Armstrong and Snyder Realty. Several years later she was a secretary at Bloomington High School while her children were in high school. Barbara was Executive Director of the Brokaw Foundation and later became Director of Volunteers at Brokaw Hospital until she retired. She also served as President of the B-N Junior Women’s Club.
Barbara and Tyler moved to Hot Springs, AR for nine years before returning to Bloomington.
She was an avid quilter, loved to golf and be with her friends. Barbara was deeply loved and will be truly missed.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the caregivers of Sugar Creek and Meadows Mennonite for the care of Barbara.
Online condolences and memories of Barbara may be left for the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.
