Doris Ellen Pace

Doris Ellen (Barefield) Pace, 97, went to be with the Lord Friday, May 29, 2026. Doris was born to Joseph Benjamin and Sarah Ethel (Capps) Barefield on Sunday September 29, 1928, in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. She was the youngest of nine children.

Being the youngest, Doris found herself taking care of her younger nieces and nephews. Doris was raised Baptist, and was saved & baptized as a teen. She and her sisters often sang in church. She became very good at playing the piano.

Doris met Robert "Bob" Eugene Pace, and they were Married May 17, 1946, in Mt Vernon, Illinois. They became the proud parents of a daughter, Carol Ann, in 1946, and a son Thomas "Tom" Lee, in 1949. In 1953 the family moved south to Texas and New Mexico. Doris was a homemaker, while Bob worked as a Fireman on oil rigs.

They relocated to Rockford, Illinois in 1954. Their family was complete with the birth of youngest daughter Debra "Debbie" Lynn, in 1958. Family meant the world to her, later growing her title from Mom, to Grandma, Great-grandma, and even Great-great-grandma.

Doris was truly the definition of an All- American Homemaker. She was an excellent cook, especially southern cooking, green fried tomatoes, chicken and dumplings, pressure cooker barbecue beef, and fried chicken were her specialties. She loved to sew, sewing quilts by hand. She was a collector of salt and pepper shakers, brooches and pins, family pictures, and cute little knickknacks. When she was younger, she was a Cardinal fan, but over the years, she became a loyal Cubs fan, watching every Cubs game on TV.

When Bob had a stroke and was paralyzed in 1994, Doris showed her true colors, she was an amazing nurse & caregiver for him at home for 6½ years until he passed away January 2001.

She is survived by her children, Carol Benjamin, Thomas Pace, and Debbie (Charlie) Geisler; grandchildren, Diane (Dirk Omer) Conti, Lisa (Greg) Green, Julie (Jason) Weber, Thomas (Amy) Pace Jr, Daniel (Jen) Pace, Michael (Maria) Benjamin Jr, Robert (Crystal) Pace, Robert (Amy) Monroe; 18 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Joe and Ethel Barefield; her husband Bob Pace, 5 sisters; 3 brothers; son-in-law Mike Benjamin; and several nieces and nephews.