Obituaries
Death of Elizabeth “Betty” Jane (Bellm) Cioni-Willen
Elizabeth “Betty” Jane (Bellm) Cioni-Willen, 90 of Carlinville, passed away Monday morning, May 16, 2016, at Heritage Health in Carlinville. Betty was born September 7, 1925, in Carlinville, a daughter of John and Helen (Beasley) Bellm. Betty graduated from Carlinville High School with the class of 1943 and worked as a dental assistant.
She married Joseph Cioni on April 10, 1950 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Carlinville. He died October 2, 1989. Betty later married Henry Willen, May 20, 1995 at Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church.
Joe and Betty owned and operated the Cioni Grocery for 37 years. She was a member of Catholic Daughters of America and served as Worthy Grand Regent. She was also a member of Carlinville Area Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered for the Auxiliary Blood Drive. In 1989 after her first husband’s death, she was asked to fulfill his term as a Carlinville Township Trustee, becoming the first woman to serve as a trustee. She served in this role from 1989 to 2013.
Betty was a woman of faith and was a member of Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church in Carlinville. She was an avid reader and one of the last books she read was War and Peace. Her review of the book was that there was too much war and not enough peace. In keeping with her feisty and independent personality, she chose to bring in her 90th year as a red head.
She loved playing cards and belonged to a Bridge Club for 40 years. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved telling jokes. Betty enjoyed making Christmas cookies and candies and sharing them with family and friends. Betty loved nature and enjoyed fishing, bike riding, feeding her birds, boating and gardening. Most of all she loved her family and cherished the time spent with them. We will love and miss our wife, mother, grandmother and Gigi forever and always.
Betty is survived by her husband Henry Willen of Carlinville; daughter, Ann (Jeff) Hamer of Somonauk, IL; son, Joe (Barbara) Cioni of Lebanon; son, Tom (Jayne) Cioni of Staunton; daughter, Jane (Tim) Napier of Mauston, WI.; step-son, Mike (Jan) Willen of Jacksonville; step-daughter, Linda Willen of Springfield; grandchildren, Hilary (Brian) Herold, Gabe (Sarah) Hamer, Andrew Napier, Carmi Cioni, Aaron Napier, Clare Cioni, Tommy Napier, Evan Cioni, Annie Napier and Maria Cioni; step-grandchildren, Shannon Fehrholz and Sean Willen; 5 great grandchildren and 2 step-great grandchildren; sister, Anna Mae (Jim) Rives of Carlinville; brothers, John (Dorothy) Bellm of Carlinville, Earl (Joan) Bellm of Carlinville, Albert (Frances) Bellm of Daytona Beach, FL and Gene (Jeanine) Bellm of Carlinville; and several nieces and nephews.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Joseph Cioni; sister and brother in law, Helen and Larry Dworzynski; and sister and brother in law, Barbara and Ed Griesbaum.
Visitation will be held Monday, May 23, 2016, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Ss. Mary and Joseph Catholic Church in Carlinville where a mass of Christian burial will take place, Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church. Betty will be laid to rest in New Calvary Cemetery next to her first husband Joe.
Memorials may be made to Carlinville Public Library, Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church or Catholic Charities of Carlinville.
Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Carlinville is in charge of arrangements.
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Nancy Ilene Weller, 74, of Gillespie, died at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 2:52 pm. She was born June 4, 1949, in Litchfield, to Charles Giller and Margaret Whitman Giller. She married Kenneth Raymond Weller, Sr., on August 17, 1968, in Litchfield. He preceded her in death on December 5, 2011.
She was a caregiver. Nancy loved horses, reading, and her grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Chester (Katina) Weller of Gillespie, Luke Weller of Gillespie, Spring Weller (spouse, Phillip Benner) of Fowler, IN, 6 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, 5 brothers, and sisters.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, spouse, 4 brothers, and sisters.
No public services are scheduled. Memorials are suggested to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Beverly Kay Brown, 82, of Gillespie, died at Gillespie Health and Rehab Center, Gillespie, on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 8:45 am. She was born October 4, 1941, in Litchfield, to Mario Meldi and Opal Olston Meldi. She married Bob Brown on October 30, 1976.
She worked for the State of Illinois in title transferring and data processing. Beverly enjoyed reading and was an avid reader of People’s magazine.
She is survived by her spouse, Bob Brown of Gillespie, children, Joell (Sid) Flyte of Edwardsville, Jackie (Larry) Fear of The Villages, FL, Kathy Giesler of Mattoon, Kim (Joe) Brittin of Springfield, Jane (Greg) Hallum of Ishpeming, MI, Lori Brown of Temecula, CA, grandchildren, Breanna Leake, Dominique Flyte, Addie Flyte, Bradley Fear, David Fear, Brad Brittin, Melissa Casad, Amanda Kozak, Jaime Galloway, Jaimee Dobson, Jenny Knight, Emily Nault, Elyssa Gregurash, Erin Baldini, many great-grandchildren, brothers, Ron (Corky) Meldi of Nitro, WV, and sisters-in-law, June Swan and Loni Cloyd. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, grandson, Jedd Hallum, and brother-in-law, Preston Brown.
Friends may call on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Funeral services are Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 1:00 pm at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie. Burial will be at Benld Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to SS Simon and Jude Church. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Darrell Leon Hoffstot, 69, of Gillespie, died at St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield, on Saturday, March 2, 2024. He was born October 2, 1954, in Granite City, to Willard Lee Hoffstot and Hazel Mae Holloway Hoffstot.
He was retired after having been an assembler for Echlin. Darrell enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and water skiing.
He is survived by his sons, Zachary Hoffstot of Mt. Olive, and Zane Hoffstot of Gillespie, and sisters, Sandra Elledge of Litchfield, and Peggy (Joseph) Fischer. Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Victor Hoffstot.
No public services will be held. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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