Mary L. Brown

Mary L. Brown, 90, of Bloomington passed away on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 in Normal at Advocate BroMenn Regional Medical Center at 3:18 pm.

Memorial services will be held Saturday at Crossroads Chapel in Bloomington at 10 a.m. with Minister Bonita Hopkins officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family or to Crossroads Chapel in Mary’s name. The family of Mary has entrusted the care of their loved one to Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington.

Mary L. Brown was born to the union of Sylvester and Lillie (Wilson) Miller, Sr. on Aug. 21, 1922 in Alton, Ill.

She leaves to cherish her memory, a brother, Simeon (Barbara) Miller of Alton; four sisters, Helen Harris of San Bernardino, Calif., Janice L. Miller of Monrovia, Calif., Barbara Trent of Redland, Calif., and Rosie (John) Douglas of St. Louis, Mo.; a beloved niece, Bonita Hopkins of Bloomington. A host of other nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, an adopted son, Robert "Bob" L. Hopkins, three sisters, Gertrude Taylor, Lillie Gray Simmons, and Lesie Miller.

She was a homemaker throughout her life; she was an excellent cook and still enjoyed cooking up through her later years. She was an accomplished singer and truly loved working puzzles.

Mary was a true humanitarian and had a true knack for helping people. She was known as "Mama Mary" throughout the community. She enjoyed her family and will be sadly missed by all who knew her.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kiblerbradyruestman.

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Tammy Sandefur Roy

Tammy Sandefur Roy, 47, of Bloomington died at 12:18 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal.

Her memorial service will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the First Assembly of God, 800 E. Vernon Ave. in Normal. Rev. Kermit Barker will officiate. There will be no visitation. The family suggests memorials be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Cremation services being handled by Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home in Bloomington.

Surviving are her husband, Ron Roy, Bloomington; a stepdaughter,
Shelly Roy, Normal; a brother Jim (Sandy) Sizemore, Bloomington; a sister, Tina Tuell, Bloomington; half-brother, Merle David Sandefur, Bloomington and a half-sister, Diana Sue Sandefur, Bloomington.

Please view the obituary and share your condolences and memories online at www.calvertmemorial.com.

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Carol J. "Sam" Schenkel

Carol J. "Sam" Schenkel, 81, of Bloomington, passed away at 5:35 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013 at her residence. 

Her graveside service will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 1, 2013 at Park Hill Cemetery with Pastor Allen Steinbeck officiating. There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Community Cancer Center or Trinity Lutheran Church or Trinity Lutheran School. Kibler_Brady_Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington is assisting her family with arrangements. 

Carol was born on July 13, 1931 in Bloomington the daughter of Claude and Marge (Bendschneider) Cotner. She married John Cole who preceded her in death. She later married Orville D. Schenkel on July 27, 1996 in Greenview, Mo. He survives.

Also surviving is one step-daughter, Lisa Friend of Idaho and one step-granddaughter, Julie (Rick) Scoggin of Bloomington. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, and one daughter, Whitney Cole. 

Carol was a lifetime member of Bloomington V.F.W. Ladies Auxillary Post 454 and Trinity Lutheran Church, where she worked for several years in the school kitchen In her earlier years she was a avid roller skater, and belonged to a skating club in Bloomington. 

Online condolences can be made to the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.

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Norma Jean Alfano Vinson

Norma Jean Alfano Vinson, 84, of Normal died Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 at Heritage Health in Normal.

Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, with Chaplain Cliff Close officiating. Inurnment will follow at Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be 10–11 a.m., Saturday at the memorial home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Home Sweet Home Ministries or Passages Hospice.

Norma was born March 24, 1928 in Bloomington, a daughter of Sturm Harrison and Ruby Cecil Ferguson Alvis. She was the 11th of 12 children. She married Vito F. Alfano on Sept. 3, 1949 in Rapid City, SD. She later married Raymond W. Vinson on Sept. 8, 1992 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Raymond survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Sheri L. (Ken) Pope, Morton, IL, and Vicki J. Connors (Dennis Stanek), Las Vegas, NV, a son, Frank D. (Cathy) Alfano, Virginia Beach, Va., three step children, David (Janet) Vinson, Bloomington, Marge Bean (Bill Bolton), Peoria, and John (Phyllis) Vinson, McHenry, Ill., six grandchildren, Dr. D. Spencer Pope, New Lenox, Ill., Craig H. Pope, Aurora, Ill., Jeffrey E. Pope, Bloomington, Jason F. Alfano, Tracy Boldyga, and Skip (Jessica) Skarin, all of Virginia Beach, Va., five great grandchildren, and two sisters, Betty L. (Bart) Wilson, Fernandina Beach, Fla. and Patricia A. Clark, Bloomington.

Her parents, two brothers, Sturm H. Alvis, Jr. and Harry W. Alvis and seven sisters, Dorothy (Glen) Dale, Bernadine L. (Mike) Reiter, Ruby M. (Don) McNeely Mary A. (Glen) Jasper and three in infancy preceded her in death.

She became a hair stylist at the age of 19 and her career spanned more than 58 years. She opened Norma’s Beauty Corner at the corner of Virginia and Main Streets in Normal in 1980 and operated it until her retirement in 2005.

Norma was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt to all her family. She was famous for her baking and made 200 dozen cookies each Christmas. She was extremely generous and kind her entire life.

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