Iva Esther McNelis
PLANO — Mrs. Iva Esther McNelis, of rural Plano, passed away Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, at her home surrounded by her family.
Born Oct. 30, 1921, in Picketsville in Champaign County, Ill., she was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Frances Willard (Webster) Foley. After her mother passed away in 1922, Esther was raised by her aunt and uncle, Georgia (Webster) and David Ingleman.
Esther married Francis James McNelis on Feb. 1, 1941, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Loda, Ill. The family moved from Gibson City to Kendall County in 1963. They settled in the Plano/Yorkville area.
To this union, 17 children were born. Esther remained active and had various interests, including quilting, playing euchre, doing crossword puzzles and enjoying nature. Her two greatest loves were her faith and her family. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Plano, Ill.
She is survived by seven daughters, Marie (Stan) Bracken of Plano, Cecelia McNelis of Plano, Ginger (Jim Gates) McNelis of Sandwich, Ill., Monica Kleinmaier of Plano, Kathy (Scott) Borton of Somonauk, Ill., Madonna (John)Vinar of Plano, Ill., and Mary (Bob) Geary of Warrenville, Ill.; her nine sons, Gene (Lisa) McNelis of Sewell, N.J., Dan (Kathy) McNelis of Plano, Bob (Ann) McNelis of Yorkville, Tom (Leticia Faz) McNelis of Millbrook, Ill., Don (Jean) McNelis of Sheridan, Ill., David McNelis of Plano, Nick (Liz) McNelis of Plano, Chris (Mary) McNelis of Plano and Pat (Marie) McNelis of Morris; her 26 granchildren, Michelle (Tim) Lieze, Chad (Kathy) McNelis, Teresa (Mitch) Hunter, Scott (Cindy) McNelis, Jason (Tammy) McNelis, Tom (Hazel) McNelis, Tammi (Ed) Baughman, Gary (Lisa) McNelis, Josh (Susan) McNelis, Tina (Jacob) Stark, Danielle Eccleston, Jeremy McNelis, Matt McNelis Aaron Kleinmaier, Austin Walton, Marci McNelis, Jeffrey McNelis, Josh (Aimee) Borton, Nicole (Dan) Thompson, Jessica McNelis, Amber McNelis, Rebecca McNelis, Rebecca McNelis, Michael McNelis, Zach Mazur, Heather Deane and Ryan Deane; her 36 great-grandchildren; her brother, Charles (Phyllis) Ingleman; a half-brother, Dalon (Jennie) Foley; one half-sister, Marine (Buel) Hayes; as well as several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Francis McNelis, in 1985; one son, Tony McNelis in 1999; three grandchildren; a sister, Evelyn Dyer; two brothers, Wayne and Vance Foley; three half-brothers, Olas, Richard and Charles Foley; and a half-sister, Emmogene Hayes.
A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 901 N. Center St., Plano, with Father Diego Maximino, M.I.C., officiating. Interment will follow at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Bristol, Ill.
Visitation will begin with the saying of the Rosary at 3 p.m to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, at the Larson-Nelson Funeral Home, 1010 W. South St., Plano.
Pallbearers will be her sons. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dave Bertram, Charles and Phyllis Ingleman, Jack and Virginia Wilborn, Clarence and Evelyn Zehr and Arlene Ogle.
Memorials in Esther's name may be directed to VNA Hospice of Fox Valley, 400 North Highland Ave., Aurora, Ill., 60506, or St. Mary's Catholic Church, 901 N. Center St., Plano, Ill., 60545.
Nelson Funeral Homes & Crematory, 410 E. Countryside Parkway, Yorkville, Ill., is in charge of arrangements. For more information, call 630-552-7211 or visit the Web site www.nelsonfuneralhomes.com.
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