Darlene Betty Bilyeu Wheelock

Darlene Betty Bilyeu-Wheelock, 80, of Bourbonnais, passed away Monday (Sept. 16, 2013) at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She was born April 10, 1933, in Alhambra Township, Madison County, Ill., the second daughter of Cecil A. and Pearl (Sehnert) Bilyeu. Her family moved to Bourbonnais in 1940 and she received most of her elementary education at Notre Dame Academy in Bourbonnais. She graduated from Bradley High School with the Class of 1951. Darlene began her working career at David Bradley Manufacturing Co., also worked at Armour Pharmaceutical when it first located to the area. She retired from General Mills/Henkel Corporation after working as a secretary in several departments and for many executives for 34 years. Darlene and Daniel E. Wheelock were married Nov. 5, 1955, at Central Christian Church in Kankakee. Daniel survives. She was preceded in death by her parents of Edwardsville; brother and sister-in-law, Donald E. and Nancy Bilyeu and a nephew, Michael K. Bilyeu, all of Seneca; and an infant sister, Helen. Darlene is survived by niece, Jennifer Bilyeu, of Seneca; nephew, Dana P. and Jerilyn Bilyeu and their five children: Jessica and Phillip Stever, of Dover, Del., McKenzie, Jacob, Ryan, and Bryce, all of Marseilles; nephew, John P. Bilyeu and Deb Williamson, of Seneca; and niece, Melissa and Dr. Marc Hodroff and their daughter, Kylie, of Portland, Maine; the LeVeque family of Chicago and Bloomington; two brothers-in-law and four sisters-in-law and spouses; many cousins and friends. She was a member of Grace Community United Methodist Church, Bourbonnais and has held various offices on the church board and worked on and headed many committees. Traveling, reading, and genealogy were her favorite pastimes. She belonged to the Red Hat Society. She loved her extended family and friends. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at Grace Community United Methodist Church, where services will be held at 6 p.m. that evening. A funeral dinner will be held at the church following the services. Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Sunnyside Cemetery in Sorento. Memorials may be made to Grace Community United Methodist Church or to Hospice of Kankakee Valley. Memorials may be made to Grace United Methodist or Hospice of Kankakee Valley - hkvcares.org

Darlene Betty Bilyeu Wheelock

April 10, 1933 - September 16, 2013