Delores Rosalie "Dee" Webber

Delores Rosalie "Dee" Webber (née Vailancourt), of Chebanse, Illinois, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, July 10, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Born on September 4, 1938, in Blue Island, Illinois, Dee was the daughter of Wilfred and Genevieve ("Gen") Vaillancourt. As a young woman, she worked as a car hop at the original Steak 'n Shake in Kankakee, where she caught the eye of a spirited young man named Albert Neal "Jerk" Webber. Neal spent many evenings cruising what was then known as "The Square," always finding another reason to stop at Steak 'n Shake and visit the pretty young waitress who had captured his heart. Their courtship blossomed into a love story that began with their marriage on December 20, 1955, and endured for sixty-one wonderful years until Neal's passing in 2016. Together they built not only a loving family, but also a remarkable life centered on faith, hard work, loyalty, and quiet perseverance. Dee was the devoted mother of Alan (Dawn) Webber, Kae (Brian) Elliott, and Tami Webber, who preceded her in death in 1978. She was an extraordinarily proud grandmother of nine grandchildren and a loving GiGi to sixteen great-grandchildren, each of whom brought immeasurable joy to her life. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her three siblings, Lolita Gocken, Noralee Sirois, and Wilfred Vaillancourt Jr. For more than six decades, Dee was an indispensable partner to her husband in both life and business. From their humble beginnings grew A. N. Webber, Inc., one of the Midwest's premier transportation companies, and later South Tec Development. While Neal was often the public face of the company, those who knew them best understood that Dee was its quiet strength. Her wisdom, loyalty, tireless work ethic, and steady presence provided the foundation upon which both the business and the family flourished. She continued working at the company until 2018. For thirty-five years, Dee and Neal divided their time between their home in Chebanse and their winter home in Jupiter, Florida, where they formed lifelong friendships and created countless treasured memories together. Away from work, Dee embraced life with grace and enthusiasm. She was an accomplished pianist and accordion player and, as a teenager, even performed on a televised talent show. Music remained one of her lifelong passions, especially the timeless voices of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. She was also an accomplished bridge player whose quick mind and competitive spirit made her a formidable opponent around the card table. A devoted member of the Kankakee Country Club for more than forty-four years, she cherished the friendships she made there and the many bridge games, dinners, and family celebrations shared with friends over the decades. In her later years, Dee found faithful companionship in her beloved dog, Angel, who rarely left her side during the past twelve years. The family also wishes to express its deepest gratitude to Meghan Davis, whose compassion, kindness, and unwavering devotion over the past six years allowed Dee to remain in the comfort and dignity of her own home. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the 1:00 p.m. funeral service on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Chebanse. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the ASPCA or Ronald McDonald House Charities. Please sign the online guestbook at www.clancygernon.com. Those fortunate enough to know Dee will remember her gentle spirit, quiet strength, generous heart, and unwavering devotion to her family. She never sought recognition for herself. Instead, she found happiness in caring for others, supporting her husband, celebrating the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren, and making everyone around her feel loved. The greatest sorrow of Dee's life came in 1978 with the heartbreaking loss of her beloved daughter, Tami. It was a burden no mother should ever have to bear. During those difficult years, the song "You'll Never Walk Alone" became far more than a favorite melody. Its message became a source of hope and comfort, helping her find the strength to keep moving forward one day at a time. Though the pain of losing Tami never left her, neither did her faith, her love for her family, or her remarkable resilience. Today, our family finds peace in believing she has been joyfully reunited with Neal and Tami. A life is not measured by wealth, accomplishments, or even the years we are given. It is measured by the love we share, the lives we touch, and the legacy we leave behind. By that measure, Dee lived an extraordinary life. She was the heart of our family, our quiet source of strength, our greatest encourager, and our steadfast example of grace, perseverance, and unconditional love. We were blessed beyond words to call her Wife, Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma. Thank you for every sacrifice, every prayer, every lesson, and every ounce of love you gave us. Until we meet again... we love you, Mom.

Delores Rosalie "Dee" Webber

September 4, 1938 - July 10, 2026