Millie Baskerville-Fleishman
COAL CITY — Mrs. Millie Baskerville-Fleishman, 85, of Coal City, and formerly Wilmington and rural Kinsman, passed away Wednesday evening, Nov. 25, 2009, at her home.
Born July 16, 1924, on a farm in Goose Lake Township, Grundy County, Mildred was a daughter of the late James Raymond and Mary Elizabeth Phillips-Cushing. She was raised in the Lorenzo area and was a 1942 graduate of Wilmington High School.
After high school, Millie went to work at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, where she was employed for two years. On Oct. 30, 1948, the same wedding date of her parents, Millie married Robert B. Baskerville at St. Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington.
Together, Millie and Bob lived in Symerton, where they raised their four children, Robert, Raymond, Rhonda and Renee. Bob preceded Millie in death on Dec. 26, 1981.
It was in 1957 that Millie gained employment with Stonebridge Paper Company in Wilmington. She worked in the same facility for 38 years. During those years, the company changed hands to include Cel-Fibe, Diamond International and C.P. Inorganics, from where she retired in 1992.
On June 8, 1991, Millie married the sweetheart from her youth, James A. Fleishman, at St. Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington. Together, they resided in rural Kinsman. During their nearly 12 years of marriage, Millie and Jim truly enjoyed their lives together, traveling and spending time with their families. Jim preceded Millie on May 3, 2003.
Millie was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington. She most recently attended Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church in Coal City. She was proud of her Irish Heritage, was known for her extraordinary caregiving and enjoyed baking for the St. Vincent's Table. She also enjoyed being in her yard, flower gardening and cutting grass. She was blessed to have an abundance of friends and will be truly missed by all who knew her.
Millie’s family is humbled by the outpouring of care and support of so many friends and family. The family extends sincere appreciation for the services provided by Grundy Community Volunteer Hospice and Joliet Area Community Hospice.
Survivors include four children, her son Raymond (Kenna) Baskerville of Coal City, two daughters, Rhonda Erio of Coal City and Renee’ (Michael) Wynne of Joliet; one daughter-in-law, Violette Baskerville of Wilmington; seven grandchildren, Michael (Patty) Baskerville of Coal City, Matthew Baskerville of Wilmington, Gina Erio of Coal City, Patrick Baltes of Springfield, Mo., and Aaron Wynne and Ashley Wynne, both of Joliet; one great grandson, Robert Michael “Mikey” Baskerville; four step-children, Lynne (Andrew) Beattie of Wilmington, Carol (Rob) Enger of Morris, James R. (Laurie) Fleishman of Verona and Karen Fleishman of Bozeman, Mont.; 10 step-grandchildren, Taylor, Cameron, Andrea and Kendall Enger, Mary and Robert Beattie and James, Matthew, Michael and Kyle Fleishman; nieces and nephews, Raymond (Betty) Onsen of Coal City, Jimmy (Pat) Onsen of Carbon Hill, Billy (Dee Perona) Onsen of Mazon, Karen (Tom) Summers of Shorewood, JoAnn (Don) McCluckie of Aurora, Carol (Ed) Walker, Mary (Dennis) Punke and Janice Feltenz, all of Mazon and John (Karen) Cushing of Glen Carbon, Ill.; and numerous great- and great-great nieces and nephews, as well as many, many friends.
Mille was preceded in death by her parents, James R. and Mary Phillips-Cushing; first husband, Robert B. Baskerville (1981); oldest son, Robert M. Baskerville (1983); second husband, James A. Fleishman (2003); brother, J.R. (Florence “Toots”) Cushing; and five sisters, Anna (Harold) Onsen, Mae (Sonny) Strohall, Catherine Cushing, Helen (Emil “Buck”) Dinon and Marguerite (Leonard “Bud”) Surman; and nieces and nephews, Leonard Onsen, Wayne Onsen, Jerry Lee Onsen, Richard Onsen, David Onsen, Betty Lou Vandygriff, Faye Legg and James Raymond “J.R.” Cushing, Jr.
Visitation and video tribute will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Nov. 29, 2009, at Reeves Funeral Home, 75 North Broadway (one block north of Illinois 113) in Coal City.
Millie will then lie in state from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 10:30 a.m. Monday Nov. 30 at Saint Rose Catholic Church, 624 S. Kankakee St., in Wilmington, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Rev. Steve Bondi, Rev. Richard L. Smith, Rev. Robert Noesen and Deacon Donald Dyer officiating. (Please note that due to construction on Kankakee Street, you must enter the church parking lot from Main Street, which is one block west of Kankakee Street)
Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wilmington, where Millie will be laid to rest with her first husband, Robert B.; and sonm Robert M. Baskerville.
Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be, Ray Onsen, Jimmy Onsen, Ed Walker, John Cushing, Jim Baskerville, Craig Long, Walter James, Bob Rink, John Plese, Jim Plese and Joe Plese.
Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Millie’s memory to Kuzma Care Cottage, 635 South Main St., Wilmington, Ill., 60481; St. Rose Catholic School, 626 South Kankakee St., Wilmington, Ill., 60481; Grundy Community Volunteer Hospice, 1802 North Division St., Suite 222, Morris, Ill., 60450; Joliet Area Community Hospice, 250 Water Stone Circle, Joliet, Ill., 60431; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Friends may sign the online guest book or send private condolences to the family by logging onto www.ReevesFuneral.com.
Funeral services and arrangements are being made under the direction and care of Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. in Coal City. For more information, call 815-634-2125.
