Elizabeth Jane (Jackson) Rice, 73, of Ottawa, passed away on Monday, January 30, 2023 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Rev. Tomas Lamb, Pastor of St. Andrew’s in the Fields Episcopal Church, officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, at the funeral home on Saturday. Burial will take place at Oakwood Memorial Park, on a later date.
Beth was born on October 5, 1949 in Ottawa to John and Mabel (Peck) Jackson. She was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School, class of 1967. She later went on to graduate from Illinois Wesleyan with her B.A in 1971 and Chicago Kent College of Law, eventually earning her Juris Doctorate in 1980. Beth married Charles Rice on December 12, 1979. She was a case worker and supervisor at the Illinois Department of Public aid from 1972-1983. Beth then worked as the Assistant States Attorney in LaSalle County from 1983-1989 Beth later moved on as an attorney with the Cantlin Law Firm where she worked from 1990-2021. She was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Illinois State Bar Association, Order of the Eastern Star, past president of the American Legion Auxiliary, member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, past president of the LaSalle County Bar Association, former member of Zonta, board member of the LaSalle County Episcopal Ministry, Rotary Club, and Women of the Moose. Beth enjoyed shopping, genealogy, spoiling her Pomeranian Lacy, and most of all she loved spending time with her family.
She is survived by a daughter, Amy (Jamie Power) Rice of Ottawa; step daughter, Joanne (Eric) Cattell of New Jersey; step son Daniel Rice of New Jersey; three brothers, John Jackson of Arkansas, Richard (Cindy) Jackson of Ottawa, and Brian (Julie) Jackson of Ottawa; and seven grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two granddaughters, a sister-in-law, Carol Jackson, and a step son Robert Rice.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Andrew’s in the Fields Episcopal Church.
Honorary Pallbearers will be her nieces and nephews.
Elizabeth has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper at Oakwood Memorial Park.