Obituaries

Edwin Spence

May 14, 2025

Edwin Joseph Spence, 91, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at LaSalle County Nursing Home.

Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.

Joe was born May 13, 1934 in Ottawa, IL to Edwin and Millie (Duchala) Spence. He attended St. Francis Grade School and Marquette High School. He went on to...

Carol A Shallhorn

May 14, 2025

Carol Ann Shallhorn, 76, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery at a later date.

Carol was born November 2, 1948 in Streator, IL to Frank and Ludmilla (Wiges)...

Deborah Kessen

Apr 29, 2025

Deborah Kessen, 61, of Sheridan, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Debbie was born March 18, 1964, in Flagstaff, AZ, to Gene and Ina Beth (Boyd) McCormick. She married Dale Kessen on October 4, 1987 in Prescott, AZ.

Debbie worked as a truck driver by trade and she and...

Veva Breck

Apr 26, 2025

Veva Marie Breck, 79, of Ottawa passed away on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at OSF St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota.

Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory.

Mary Jane Anderson

Apr 25, 2025

Mary Jane Anderson, 78, of Ottawa, passed away peacefully at home on April 25, 2025 with her family by her side.

Mary Jane was born May 11, 1946, in Ottawa, to Stanley and May (Thompson) Shawlinsky . She married Robert Anderson on July 19, 1969. He preceded her in death on May 26, 2007.

Mary...

Christopher Tanner

Apr 16, 2025

Christopher Lee Tanner, a beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away on April 16, 2025, at the age of 40.

Christopher was born on May 29, 1984, in Joliet, Illinois the son of Ricky Gene and Brenda Lee (Flanagan) Tanner Sr.

Christopher was known for his infectious sense of humor and his unwavering...

Robyn Ritchie-Allen

Apr 15, 2025

Robyn “Michelle” Ritchie-Allen, 58, of Ottawa, passed away on April 15, 2025, due to injuries sustained in a house fire.

Robyn was born August 23, 1966 to born to Dianne Dominick (Alcorn) and Edward Ritchie in California. She attended Ottawa Township High School class of 1984. Robyn was a free spirit who found joy in sunshine, the...

Louise Byrne

Apr 14, 2025

Louise Lynn (Lowers) Byrne, 71, of Marseilles, passed away April 14, 2025 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

Louise was born April 6, 1954, in Marseilles, IL, to Ralph and Eleanor (Johnson) Lowers. She married Michael Byrne on August 6, 1982 at St. Andrews Church in Chicago.

She worked at OSF St. Elizabeth...

Brian O'Donnell

Apr 10, 2025

Brian Thomas O'Donnell, 63, of Ottawa passed away on April 10, 2025 at his home.

A visitation will be held on Monday, April 21, from 4:00pm until 6:00pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30am on Tuesday, April 22, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Columba Cemetery.

...

James "Jim" Claggett

Apr 10, 2025

James “Jim” Edward Claggett, 85, of Seneca, passed away peacefully at home on April 10, 2025 with his family at his side.

Mass will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Seneca with Fr. Ghislain Inaï officiating. A time for greeting will be held in the church at 9:30 AM until the...

Laurie Butzen

Apr 9, 2025

Laurie Butzen, 69, of Ottawa, formerly of DePue, passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at LaSalle County Nursing Home.

Honoring her wishes, no services will be held. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.

Laurie was born April 1, 1956, in Ottawa, IL, to Marion "Woody" and Dorothy (Gumm) Davis. She married James...

Kaitlynn Rhodes

Apr 7, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Kaitlynn Ellen Rhodes, beloved daughter, mother, sister, and friend, who left this world too soon on April 7, 2025, at the age of 31. Kaitlynn was born on July 1, 1993, in Ottawa, Illinois, where her radiant spirit first graced the lives of those around her.

...

Timothy "Tim" Helffrich

Apr 4, 2025

Timothy "Tim" Helffrich, 58, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, April 4, 2025 at his home.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 10, from 4:00pm until 6:00pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will follow at 6:00pm.

Tim was born April 5, 1966, in Ottawa, IL, to Austin and Therese (Burke) Helffrich.

...

Annette Cokley

Mar 30, 2025

Annette Cokley born January 15, 1944, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2025.

She is survived by her sons, Bernie and Larry; daughters, Natalie Howie (Budnik), Melissa Kennamer (Budnik) and Debbie Garzanelli (Budnik); brother, Robert Cokley; and sister, Sandra Hiles.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Violet Olsen; father, Lawrence Cokley; sister, Janice...

Angela Duffy

Mar 28, 2025

Angela Marie Duffy, 49, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, March 28, 2025 at Parker Nursing Home after a courageous battle with cancer.

Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will take place in Oakwood Memorial Park at a later date.

Angela was born April 24, 1975, in Ottawa, IL, the daughter of...

Ronald Laatz

Mar 27, 2025

Ronald Laatz, 74, of Grand Ridge, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at his home.

A visitation will be held on Monday, March 31, from 10:30am until 12:00pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will take place at 12:00pm at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow at the Grand Ridge Cemetery....

Jerry Kiley

Mar 20, 2025

Jerry Thomas Kiley, 67, of Spring Valley, formerly of Ottawa, passed away Thursday, March 20, 2025 at his home after a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral ceremonies will be held at a later date. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.

Jerry was born January 25, 1958, in Ottawa, IL, to William J....

Mary Lynn Deyo

Mar 20, 2025

Mary Lynn “Gert” Deyo passed away on March 20, 2025, in her hometown of Ottawa, IL at the age of 67 following a courageous battle with a rare form of Parkinson’s, Corticobasal Syndrome.

Mary Lynn was born on May 1, 1957 in Ottawa, IL to Virginia Johnson (Stoudt) and Silas Milford Johnson. The first girl on the...

Heather Reynolds

Mar 14, 2025

Heather Renee Reynolds, 43, of Marseilles, passed away Friday, March 14, 2025.

Heather was born May 27, 1981, in Ottawa, IL, to Ronald Anderson and Carole Reynolds.

She is survived by her daughter, Alyssa Reynolds; her brother, Kiley (Holly) Reynolds; her sisters, Andrea (Steve) Craig, Tammy Anderson, and Kimberley Hinshaw; and numerous nieces and nephews....

Robert "Bob" Gibson

Mar 12, 2025

Robert “Bob" Gibson, 86, of Seneca, passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at Morris Hospital.

Bob was born March 7, 1939, in Ottawa, IL, to Sterling and Nola (Bruce) Gibson. He married the love of his life, Donna Monson, on July 2, 1961 in Morris, IL. Together they have shared 63 years of marriage.

Bob...