November 2020

Dennis David Batistini, 77, of Ottawa, passed away on November 20, 2020 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

Private Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday November 23, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with Rev. Duane Kaufman, officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22.

Due to current State of Illinois guidelines, social distancing and face coverings will be required during the visitation.

Dennis was born December 20, 1942 in Ottawa to Raymond and Mary (Bernardi) Batistini. He was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School, class of 1960. Dennis married Sandra Bolatto on June 17, 1961 at Zion Lutheran Church in Ottawa. He worked with his father and uncle at Batistini’s IGA, then as a route man and supervisor at Purity Baking company. He was the produce manager at Handy Foods, retiring at 42 Years. After retirement, he attended all of the events for his great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra, a daughter, Denise Nordtvedt, of Ottawa, two grandchildren, Stephanie (Brandon) Diss, Christopher (Janelle) Nordtvedt, four great-grandchildren, Addison Diss, Emmalyn Diss, Griffin Nordtvedt, Grady Nordtvedt, and a brother, Robert (Joan) Batistini, of Earlville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son in law, Steve Nordtvedt, and a mother and father in law, Rose and Dick Bolatto.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Diss, Bill Manley, Don Batistini, Ron Ward, John Thomas, and Frank Markey. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom Paquette and Bonnie McGrogan.

He was laid to rest in the Garden of Hymns.

Marilyn Ann DeBernardi, 84, of Naplate, passed away Thursday, November 12, 2020 at Morris Hospital surrounded by her family.

A Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marseilles. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. Seals-Campbell Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements.

She was born January 2, 1936, in Ottawa, to Donald and Rosella (Schuett) Dulian. On October 3, 1953, she married Jack DeBernardi of Ottawa who preceded her in death in 1998.

Marilyn enjoyed fishing, bingo with her sister, Sharon Trager, playing cards, video slots, the Chicago Bears, and most of all spending time with her family. She cooked hot eggs for the football games at Sip’s Bar for many years.

She is survived by her children, Jackie Thomas, Joe (Omayra) DeBernardi, and John (Merry Beth) DeBernardi, all of Marseilles; eight grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; her sister, Sharon Trager; her sister-in-law, Joyce Piercy; and her brother and sister-in-law, James and Leona DeBernardi.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Rose Dulian; her husband, Jack; a son, Donnie; a sister, Carol Jean VanDuzer; a brother, Ed Dulian; and her son-in-law, Jim Thomas.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.

Helen Louise Gaston, 101, of Ottawa, passed away on Thursday, November 12, 2020 at Aurora Medical Center in Kenosha, WI.

A private service will be held on Thursday at the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum at Oakwood Memorial Park, with Rev. Carolyn Lukasick, Pastor of Epworth United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow the service. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Helen was born on July 29, 1919 in Crystal City, MO to Floyd and Flossie (Jones) Gordon. She married Donald R. Gaston on May 4, 1941 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, they were married for over 79 years before his passing, in June. Helen was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church in Ottawa. Helen played the organ, she also loved crafting, sewing and crocheting.

She is survived by a daughter Judith Lee (David) Schaefer, of Cape Coral, FL, two grandchildren, Daniel (Melissa) Beattie, of Audubon, IA and Kirstin (Joseph) Martinez, of Racine, WI, and eight great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Donald, on June 10, 2020, a sister Jennie Luella McGovern, and a son Ralph Gordon Gaston.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.

Isamae Lynn Rhodes, 2, of Ottawa, IL, passed away Sunday, November 8, 2020.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am, Friday, November 13, at St. Columba Church, with Rev. Gary Castor officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 – 11:00 am, prior to the service, at the church. Due to CDC guidelines, masks and social distancing will be mandatory. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Isamae was born on May 30, 2018 in Ottawa to Daniel and Jackie (Mathias) Rhodes. Isamae was a smiling, happy little girl who was always giving hugs and kisses. She adored her little sissy, Frozen, and Minnie Mouse. Isamae and her family loved going for walks and playing at the park. She was always “helping” her mommy and daddy clean and do chores around the house. Our little angel will be forever loved and dearly missed.

She is survived by her parents; her little sissy, Isabella; her maternal grandparents, Steve (Cheryl) Mathias; her paternal grandparents, Rex Rhodes and Mary Helwig; her great-grandfathers, Ray Motta and Don (Connie) Craig; her uncle, Donald Rhodes; close family friend, Kenny Labelle; and many other great-aunts, great-uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her great-grandparents.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of Devotion.

Jo Ann Larson, 71, of South Elgin IL passed away peacefully in her home on Tuesday November 3, 2020 of natural causes.

Jo Ann, born on November 17, 1948 in Ottawa IL is survived by her son Jason Larson (38), daughter Stephanie Coles (52), nephew Kenny McDonald (53) and her grand children Brad, Caroline, Natalie and Kennedy. She is preceded by her twin sister Jeanni, her mother Marie and her father William.

She was a 2 time Leukemia survivor and was blessed with two bone marrow transplants from Frank Bagheri of Tujunga, California between the years of 2011 and 2013.

Jo Ann graduated from Ottawa Township High School. She was a pillar of every community she was a part of, a proud member of Christ Community Church (St. Charles) and was an honored employee of Fermi lab for 30 years before retiring in 2018.

Visitation begins at 1P.M. on Saturday November 7, 2020. Directly following will be the funeral service starting at 4P.M.

She was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park in the Garden of Hymns.

Sheila Sarver, 79, of Ottawa died on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 at the Ottawa Pavilion.

Private services were held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5 at the Mueller Funeral Home with the Rev. David Daniel, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial was at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa.

Sheila was born September 2, 1941in Ottawa to Alfred and Delphine Riebe. She married Lloyd Sarver in 1960. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. Sheila was a loving mother and liked crafts, and decorating for the holidays.

She is survived by 6 children, Rick (Pat) Sarver of Adams, Wisc., Dan (LaVonne) Sarver, of Ottawa, Dale (Lisa) Sarver, of Ottawa Lloyd (Joni) Sarver, of Ottawa, Debbie (Roger) Williams, and Jay (Michelle) Sarver, of Ottawa, 15 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, and one daughter Dorrie Pearson.

Pallbearers will be grandsons: Brennen, Bryer, Chris, Dalton, Devon, Gregory, Keegan, Mike, Nick, Tim and Von.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

Glenn Baxter, 73, of Ottawa, passed away on Wednesday evening, October 28, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family.

Private services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with the Rev. David Daniel, Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park, where Full Military Rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 33 Honor guard. Private visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.

Glenn was born on May 1, 1947 in Ottawa to James and Ruth (Anderson) Baxter. He married Gloria Hudson on August 4, 1968 in San Antonio, TX. Glenn retired as the maintenance supervisor of LaSalle County, where he worked at the court house, the LaSalle County government complex, and the nursing home. He was a veteran of the US Army. Glenn was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, the VFW, and the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria, two daughters, Cheri (Mike) Hanson, of Ottawa, and Chandra Baxter, of Marseilles, four grandchildren: Danielle, Jessica, Ashley, and Riley, three great-grandchildren, with the fourth due in December, five brothers, Jimmy (Katy) Baxter, of Ottawa, Dale (Sue) Baxter, of Ottawa, Donald (Debbie) Baxter, of Marseilles, Randy (Irene) Baxter, of Ottawa, and Robert (Kathy) Baxter, of Freeport, IL, and three sisters, Sharon Anderson, of Ottawa, Janet (Reg) Gage, of Plainfield, and Donna (Carl) Herzog, of Ottawa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a daughter, Christina Sue “Tina” Baxter and her child.

Pallbearers will be Riley Hanson, Mike Hanson, Taylor Frandin, Bobby Anderson, Barry Baxter, and Bradley Baxter.

He was laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.

Wanda Mae Bishop, 92, of Ottawa, passed away at her home on Saturday, October 24, 2020.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2020 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with Tracy Johnson, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home, on Saturday.

Wanda was born on December 2, 1927 in Galesburg to Mr. & Mrs. Thorpe. She was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School. She married Robert Bishop, Sr. on October 12, 1957 in Ottawa.

She is survived by her seven children, Tina (Gladstone) Sanders, Theresa G. Veasy, Timothy F. Veasy, John S. Veasy, Charles L. (Lynda) Bishop, Robert Bishop, Jr., Kenneth (Belithia) Bishop, 19 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, husband and a son.

Pallbearers will be Alex Bishop, Jacob Graham, Richard Burynes and Aaron Hughes.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Donna L. Craft, 88, of Ottawa passed away Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Private family services will be held at a later date with burial in Oakwood Memorial Park. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with cremation arrangements.

Donna was born April 26, 1932 in Ottawa to LeRoy and Iola (Pagakis) Daggett. She married Harold “Dick” Hunter January 5, 1952 in Ottawa; he passed away May 7, 1963. Donna retired from Ottawa Township High School in 1996 as a secretary. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. Donna loved spending time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her three sons, Larry (Fran) Hunter of Ottawa, Mike (Lisa) Hunter of Clermont, Florida, and Brian (Carmin) Craft of Streator; three grandchildren, Jill (James) Wehri, Madelynn Craft, and Gwendolynn Craft; great-grandsons, Anson and Ethan Wehri; and one sister, JoAnne West of Ottawa. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Dick; and two grandsons, Benjamin Hunter, and Michael Hunter, Jr.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.

Jeannine Hazard died peacefully in her home on Sunday, October 18,2020 at Greenspring in Springfield, VA at the age of 91 years old.

Graveside Services are scheduled for Friday, October 29th at Oakwood Memorial Park with Rev. Cheri Stewart, Pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating, after which she will join her husband Jim, and mother-in-law Ora for eternity. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

She was born on May 1, 1929 in Johnstown, PA to Samuel Walter Carney and Osceola Coy Carney and was the youngest of 10 children. Living in PA until the early 1960’s, she relocated to Northern Virginia for the remainder of her life working as a buyer in the Office Supply industry until retirement. She was an avid bowler, an active member in the Eastern Star, American Legion, and other organizations.

She was a loving and dedicated mother and grandmother and set a fine example to her family in loving unconditionally and helping others. Family was very important to her! She lived at Greenspring Retirement Community for the last 13 years and was very active volunteering in the community at many venues and at the local Treasure Chest. She knew everyone and many of the staff members commented about how nice she was, always laughing, and having a wonderful demeanor.

She was preceded in death by her husband James Hazard, and is survived by her son Joe Taranto, daughter in law Cheryl, grandson Tony, granddaughter Kelli, and her last remaining sister, Louise Bloom of Seward, PA, and many nieces and nephews.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.