Birdie Caroline (Reynolds) Goodchild, 81, of rural Ottawa, passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa, Illinois.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 18, 2023 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with Rev. David Loveless, Pastor of River of Life Pentecostal Church in Ottawa, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service, on Monday.
Birdie was born on May 10, 1942 in Ottawa to Charles and Edna (Beguin) Reynolds. She married Gerald A. Goodchild on June 16, 1975 in Ottawa. Birdie retired after 25 years as a CNA at Pleasant View Lutheran Home in Ottawa. She enjoyed crocheting doilies, watching game shows, reading her bible, and listening to country music. She once was a contestant on the Illinois Instant Riches TV game show that aired on August 20, 1994. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her large family.
She is survived by her husband, Gerald; five children: Joe Husted, Jerry (Bobbie) Husted, Terri Lynn Husted; Kevin (Melanie) Goodchild, and Wayne Goodchild, all of Ottawa; seven grandchildren: Joe (Katie) Husted, Jr., Kristen (Joshua) Jordan, Gary McClain, Danny (Mary) Husted, David (Jessica) Husted, Mindy (Luke) Matson, Duncan (Jacqui) Goodchild, and Kali Goodchild; several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; two brothers, Raymond (Sharon) Reynolds and Vernon (Judy) Reynolds; and a sister, Donna Simmons.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 10 brothers, 3 sisters, and a daughter in infancy.
Pallbearers will be Duncan Goodchild, Joe Husted, Jr., Gary McClain, Shannon Ristau, Tom Contreras, Dan Husted, Luke Matson and David Galvan.
Memorials may be directed to Friendship House.
Birdie was laid to rest in the Garden of The Last Supper at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa, IL