LaVerne Bittner

LaVerne Bittner, 89, of Fairbury, died at 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac.

Mrs. Bittner was born August 5, 1927 in Normal, one of five daughters of William and Lena (Demler) Schaab. She graduated from University High School in 1945. She married Wayne E. Bittner on September 15, 1948 in Normal. Their devoted 65-year marriage produced five children. He died June 4, 2014. Her parents, two sisters, two brothers, one daughter, Connie Mueller and one son, Paul Bittner, also preceded her in death.

Survivors include her children, Gary (Linda) Bittner of Silver Spring, MD; Jane (Al) Freehill of Chenoa; Keith (Vickie) Bittner of Fairbury; two sisters, Arlene Gittings of Bloomington; Martha West of Congerville; sisters-in-law Roseann Schaab of Normal; Jean Bittner of Fairbury; and Emma (Pete) Schaffer of Fairbury; 23 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-granddaughter.

Mrs. Bittner’s beautiful hands undertook a lifetime of loving work. She used them to work at a photography studio in Normal as a teenager and cook at the Old Chapel Inn in Chatsworth years later. She helped on the Bittner family farm and loved to grow flowers and vegetables in her garden. Those hands also baked countless cookies and pies, as well as knitted and crocheted many a blanket. She also corresponded faithfully with her large family through the years, never failing to send a letter or remember a birthday.

She was a member of the Country Domestic Science Club for over 50 years. She also enjoyed card games like Canasta, Skipbo, and later, bingo.

There will be a private family funeral service and burial will be in South Apostolic Christian Cemetery, Fairbury.

Visitation will be 4:00 to 8:00 pm, Friday, July 14, 2017, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury, and memorials be directed to S.E.L.C.A.S of Fairbury or OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac.

An online guest registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.