Marcella Joyce Hillig

She was born on September 27, 1931 in Peoria to Samuel and Elizabeth (Folkers) Brunner. She preferred to go by her middle name, Joyce. She married Roland G. Hillig on December 12, 1953. He died on April 25, 2013 in Peoria. She also was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, William (Glennis) Brunner and Gary Brunner.

Surviving are her three children, Jana (Wes) Fleming of Donna, Texas, Joy Rees of Bartonville and Brad Hillig of Pekin; five grandchildren, Alycia (Jason) Rockey of Brooklyn, New York, Tyler Rees of St. Louis, Missouri, Kelsey Rees of Clinton, Tennessee, Sarah Hillig of Nashville, Tennessee and Shelby Rees of West Peoria; one great-granddaughter, Evie Jones of Clinton, Tennessee and her sister-in-law, Joyce Brunner of Morton.

Joyce was a graduate of Manual High School and was employed by Hiram Walker, Smith-Corona-Marchant, and lastly by Caterpillar, Inc. where she retired from in 1983. After retiring, Rol and Joyce would enjoy their camper and boat in New Boston, Illinois on the Mississippi River. They were also winter Texans, spending most of the winter at their camper in Weslaco, Texas.

Services will be private with burial in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Bartonville. Arrangements have been entrusted to Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Midwest Affiliate, 530 Northeast Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria, IL 61637.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com