Hildegarde Elizabeth Kerns, 94, of Mendota died Sept. 18, 2012, in Heritage Health, Mendota.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Holy Cross Church, Mendota, with the Rev. Joseph Dondanville officiating. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Mendota.
Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota.
Mrs. Kerns was born Dec. 21, 1917, in Lacon to Henry J. and Helena (Nellie) Wernsman. She married Louis J. Kerns on Oct. 11, 1941, in St. Joseph's Catholic Church (now Resurrection Church), La Salle.
She was a reporter-photographer for 10 years with the News-Tribune and retired from that position in 1958.
Following her retirement she became very active in civic and volunteer projects. She was a member of St. Mary's Altar Society of Holy Cross Church, a member of Elks Club, a past officer of Mendota Golf Club and past officer and life member of Mendota Community Hospital Auxiliary.
She is survived by two sons, Louis J. (Susan) Kerns Jr. of Shorewood, Wis., and Kevin H. Kerns of Michigan City, Ind.; one granddaughter, Megan Johnson of Madison, Wis.; one grandson, Jeremy (JoEllen) Johnson of Phoenix, Ariz.; and three great-grandchildren, Morgan, Adam and Ian.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1999; one brother, Henry; two sisters, Teresa and Rita; and her grandson, Geoffrey Johnson.
Memorials may be directed to Heritage Health, Mendota.