Vanessa M Wilken

**Due to the inclement weather,funeral services for Vanessa Wilken have been rescheduled as follows: Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 2, 2006 at Grace Untied Methodist Church, where visitation will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. **PEKIN ~ Vanessa May Wilken, 94, formerly of 909 Mary Street, passed away at 1:45 a.m. Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at Hallmark House Nursing Center in Pekin.

Born July 28, 1912 in Tremont to Ivan Lee and Anna Elisa "Lizzie" (Masso) Manker, she married Louis Hodgson in June of 1933 in Pekin. He died in November of 1943. She then married Bernard Wilken in May of 1951 in Pekin. He died in August of 1964. She also was preceded in death by one infant sister, Ruth Manker.

Surviving are one daughter, Ruth H. (Robert) Bennett of Joliet; two grandsons, Robert B. (Lisa) Bennett of Shorewood and Alex C. Bennett of Joliet; three great-grandsons, Anthony J. Bennett, Dominic J. Bennett and Robert D. Bennett; one sister, Nina E. (Charles) Dancey of Pekin and three nephews, Richard C. (Margaret) Dancey of Chicago, Burt L. (Tina) Dancey of Orchard Mines and Clinton L. (Debbie) Dancey of Blacksburg, Virginia.

Mrs. Wilken worked as a record clerk for 33 ½ years for the Peoria & Pekin Union Railroad until retiring in July 1977.

She was a member of the Pekin YWCA and its Tri-S Club. She also had served as the chair of the Pekin Community High School Class of 1931 Reunion Committee.

She was a devoted member of Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin, where she was a second grade Sunday school teacher for 35 years and was the coordinator of the children's department. She was a member of the United Methodist Women and the Susannah Circle. In 1988, her church recognized her with the Christian Education Award for sharing her witness with others.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 2, 2006at Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin. The Rev. Gary L. Ford will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m.Thursday, November 30, 2006at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel and from 10 to 10:45 a.m.Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, Sunday School Department, 503 North 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.