Obituaries Posted by Horner-Merritt Funeral Home

Aug 6, 2020

Gifford "Bugs" Fordham Jr., 72, of Sublette passed away peacefully on Thursday August 6, 2020 at Heritage Health in Mendota.

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Aug 6, 2020

David "Dave" Piller, 75, of Mendota, passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2020 at OSF St. Francis Medcial Center, Peoria, after a 15-year bout of cancer.

David was born on March 4, 1945 in Earlville to Anton and Marie (Kerchner) Piller, Jr.

David was a licensed electrical contractor who started his own electrical business, Piller...

Aug 5, 2020

Richard (Dick) L. Shotliff, 98, of Mendota passed away August 5, 2020 at Heritage Health, Mendota.

Mr. Shotliff was born January 25, 1922 in Beloit, Wisconsin to Edward and Lyle (Liddle) Shotliff. He spent his early years in Rockton, IL. He graduated from Hononegah High School, where he was the valedictorian for his 1940 class. He was...

Aug 5, 2020

Fay Dean Vaughn, 97, of LaMoille passed away August 5, 2020 at Heritage Health, Mendota. Graveside services will be Monday August 10, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Greenfield Cemetery, LaMoille with Rev. Rick Wulf officiating. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is handling arrangements. Fay was born December 13, 1922 in McLeansboro, Illinois. She married Robert Vaughn. Fay enjoyed working at McDonalds....

Aug 5, 2020

Dennis John Jones, 70, of Mendota passed away Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at home after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday August 11, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Church Mendota with Father Peter Pilon officiating. The Mass will be broadcast from a speaker in the church parking lot...

Aug 5, 2020

Richard "Rick" L. Simpson, 57, of LaSalle passed away peacefully at home Wednesday August 5, 2020 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Due to Covid 19, services will be private. Burial will be at Troy Grove Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is handling arrangements.

Aug 4, 2020

Gilbert "Gib" E. Crane, 93, of Mendota passed away August 4, 2020 at Heritage Health, Mendota.

Graveside services will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Restland Cemtery, Mendota with Rev. Mary Bohall officiating. Military rites will be conducted by Mendota VFW Post 4079. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is handling arrangements.

Gilbert was born June 4,...

Aug 3, 2020

Vera M. Godfrey, 92, of Mendota passed away August 3, 2020 at Prairie Crossing and Rehab, Shabbona.

Graveside services will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Restland Cemetery, Mendota with Rev. Mary Bohall officiating. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is handling arrangements. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Vera was born...

Jul 31, 2020

Ronald R. Vaessen, 80, of  Sublette, passed away July 31, 2020 at KSB Hospital, Dixon after a six month illness, with his wife and children at his side.

Ronald was born on July 19, 1940 in Spring Valley to Ralph and Della (Pachankis) Vaessen. Ron was a lifelong resident of Sublette. Blessed to have had 54 1/2...

Jul 30, 2020

Evangelina De La Torre, 88, of LaSalle passed away July 30, 2020 in her home. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, Mendota with Father Peter Pilon officiating. Burial will be in Tijuana, Mexico. Visitation will be Sunday from 4-6 p.m. in the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota. Evangelina was born December 6, 1931...

Jul 29, 2020

Kenneth Eugene Swanlund, 83, of LaMoille, passed away July 29, 2020, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at the LaMoille Community United Methodist Church with Pastor Dave Jungnickel, officiating. Visitation will be held at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the time...

Jul 26, 2020

Frank Daniel Hesik, 77, of Sublette passed away July 26, 2020 in his home. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is handling arrangements. Frank was born May 23, 1949 in Chicago to Frank A. and Mary (Ryan) Hesik. He married Sharon Cunningham on April 1, 1962. Frank served in the United...

Jul 23, 2020

Marjorie Kessel Sibigtroth, 91, of Ohio, Illinois passed away July 23, 2020 at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home, Peoria surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be Wednesday July 29, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota with Rev. Gene Vincent officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services. Masks are required and...

Jul 17, 2020

Mary Catherine Wujek, 90, of rural Mendota, passed away on July 17, 2020, in her home surrounded by her family.

She was born March 7, 1930 at home, the ninth child of eleven children born of Joseph and Catherine (Sondgeroth) Stremlau in Peterstown. She married Francis Wujek on August 26, 1950, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church,...

Jul 16, 2020

Betty Jane H. Wilhelm, 95, of Mendota passed away July 16, 2020 at Heritage Health, Mendota. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, July 24 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, West Brooklyn with Father Randy Fronek officiating. Please practice social distancing and wear a mask. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, West Brooklyn. Merritt Funeral...

Jul 16, 2020

Marvin Albert Hess, Jr., 72, of Mendota passed away July 16, 2020 in his home. Graveside services will be Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Precinct Cemetery, Earlville with Rev. Susan Presley officiating. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is handling arrangements. Marvin was born August 12, 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Marvin Albert and Cecilia Mary (Dass) Hess Sr....

Jul 11, 2020

Charlene Rose Stamberger, 81, of LaMoille, passed away July 11, 2020 in her home surrounded by family. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church of Clarion with Rev. Paul Darveau officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. in the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota. Masks are required and...

Jul 11, 2020

James (Jim) George Daul, 60,of LaSalle passed away July 11, 2020 at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria.

A celebration of Jim's life will be held at a later date. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is assisting the family.

Jim was born April 16, 1960 in Rockford to James Peter and Shirley Marie (Jones) Daul. He...

Jun 29, 2020

Staci Jessica Sessler, "Staci J", 44, left this world after putting up one hell of a 'Staci J fight', on June 29, 2020, due to complications of surgery at IVCH.

Services will be Tuesday, July 7 at 2:00 p.m in the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota with Rev. Susan Presley officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery,...

Jun 29, 2020

Charlene Fay Needs Doan earned her wings on June 29th, 2020 at Aperion Care in Marseilles surrounded by her loved ones. After an extended illness she can finally sleep in a place of peace in the arms of our Heavenly Father.

A Celebration of Life will be determined at a later date. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is...