M. Idella Lee

Born November 4, 1935 in Delavan to Fredrick Gus and Mary Mildred (Sparrow) Hartwig, she married Wallace Foy “Wally” Lee on July 7, 1956 in Delavan. He died October 4, 2008. She also was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, William Hartwig; one sister, Mary Lou Berchtold Myers.

Surviving are three sons, Mark (Doris) Lee of Morton, Tim (Julie) Lee of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Brad (Ellen) Lee of Manito; one daughter, Pam (Darren) Hacker of Pekin; seven grandchildren, Matthew Lee of Washington, Kristi (Nick) Lanzo of Palos Heights, Tabitha (John) Fromm of Peoria, Darsie (Kevin) Eddlemon of Norris, Jessyca (Jason) Clark of Princeville, Rachel Lee of Williamsburg, Kentucky and Alexis Lee of Denver; fourteen great-grandchildren; fourteen great-great-grandchildren and one brother, Kenneth Hartwig of St. Augustine, Florida.

Idella graduated in 1953 from Green Valley High School, where she was a cheerleader for all four years. She then graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing in 1956. Idella was a Registered Nurse working at Pekin Hospital for 40 years, retiring as charge nurse of the medical surgical floor. Her first job was as a telephone operator. She also had taught tap dancing at Dentino’s Dance Studio in Pekin and worked at the movie theater in Pekin and Green Valley. When Idella worked at the movie theater she could get Wally in to watch movies for a free date.

She was a member of the Pekin Hospital Retirees Club, Pekin Registered Nurses Club, Pekin Hospital Auxiliary and had formerly served 13 years as an EMT with the Green Valley Fire Department.

Idella was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception and the Altar & Rosary Society of the church. She also attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.

She enjoyed traveling the world and had traveled to every state and to several countries. She felt fortunate to have seen the Pope in person at the Vatican. She loved spending time with her family.

Her memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 31, 2023 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Delavan. Monsignor Timothy Nolan will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Inurnment will follow the Mass in Green Valley Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Green Valley Fire Department, 106 North Church Street, Green Valley, IL 61534 or 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