Obituaries

Dec 11, 2020

Willadene "Billie" Nussbaum, 93, of Forrest, IL, passed away Friday December 11, 2020 at Fairview Haven Nursing Home Fairbury, IL.

Private graveside services will be on Saturday, with Rev. David Kipfer officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, in Fairbury. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Billie was born October 10, 1927, in...

Dec 11, 2020

Bernadette R. Balzarini, 94, of Ottawa, IL, passed away Friday December 11, 2020 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Due to COVID restrictions, private services will be held at St. Columba Church. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Bernadette was born July 21, 1926, in Ottawa, to Edward J....

Dec 8, 2020

James Bloom, 65, of Ottawa, IL died Tuesday, December 8, 2020.

Jim was born June 2, 1955 to Arley “Ben” Bloom and Jane (Gende) Bloom.  He graduated Ottawa Township High School class of 1973 and worked for IBEW Local 176 as a journeyman electrician until retiring in 2017.

He enjoyed music, cue sports, and gardening....

Dec 8, 2020

Phyllis Louise Revell, 78, of Ottawa passed away Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at her home.

Due to COVID restrictions, private services will be held at St. Columba Church. The family has set up a facebook page to live-stream the funeral for friends and family unable to attend the service. For more information, search "Memorial Service for Phyllis...

Dec 7, 2020

Bernard Vincent Schomas, Sr., known by most as Benny, age 95 of Ottawa passed away Monday, December 7, 2020.

Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements. Military honors will be performed by the Ottawa American Legion Post 33.

Benny was born January 7, 1925 in Ottawa to Vincent and Catherine (Dwyer) Schomas....

Dec 4, 2020

Dominic Vercolio Jr., 84, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, December 4, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family.

Due to Covid guidelines, funeral services will be private. Ottawa Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Dominic was born May 3, 1936 in Litchfield, IL to Dominic Sr. and Victoria (Baima) Vercolio. He married Nancy Kerestes on...

Dec 3, 2020

Jose Israel Serrano, III, also known as Bebe, 43, of Ottawa, formerly of Aurora, passed away Thursday, December 3, 2020 at his home.

Due to COVID restrictions, private family services will be held. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Jose was born March 23, 1977 in Aurora to Norma Ibanez and Jose Israel...

Dec 3, 2020

Kathy Smart, 68, of Sandwich, formerly of Ottawa, passed away Thursday, December 3, 2020 at her home.

Due to COVID restrictions, private family services will be held. She will be buried at Ottawa Avenue Cemetery. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Kathy was born August 4, 1952 in Naplate to Daniel and Betty...

Dec 2, 2020

Mary Giacomini, 99, of Ottawa, IL passed away Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at Ottawa Pavilion and went to be with her husband in heaven.

Due to current Covid restrictions, private funeral services will be held. A live video of the service will be held at 2pm Tuesday, December 8, via zoom. Meeting ID: 839 3792 7383 Meeting...

Dec 2, 2020

Marvin F. Wherry, 86, of Ottawa passed away Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at his home.

Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with cremation rites. He will be buried at Osage Cemetery in Iowa in the Spring.

Marvin was born January 15, 1934, in Osage, IA, to Ralph and Laura (Lindley) Wherry. While raised in town,...

Nov 28, 2020

Debra Lucille (Camplin) Eskew, 64, of Sheridan passed away Saturday, November 28, 2020 at her home.

Due to COVID restrictions, private family services will be held. She will be entombed in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum at Oakwood Memorial Park. Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with cremation rites.

Debra was born September...

Nov 28, 2020

Ralph W. Nelson, 85, of Ottawa passed away Saturday, November 28, 2020 at his home.

Due to state regulations and guidelines, social distancing and masks will be required. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 am, Thursday, December 3 at Cross Bridge Community Church. We will be limiting the number of people at a time entering the...

Nov 27, 2020

Terence A. "Terry" Einhaus, 59, of Ottawa passed away Friday, November 27, 2020 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Due to COVID restrictions, private family funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 1. He was buried at St. Columba Cemetery. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Terry was born February 26,...

Nov 26, 2020

Charles L. "Chuck" Clairmont, 76, of Marseilles passed away Thursday, November 26, 2020 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Due to COVID restrictions, a memorial service will be held at a later date. He will be buried at Oakwood Memorial Park. Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with cremation rites.

Chuck was born June 16, 1944...

Nov 26, 2020

Helen E. Shallhorn, 93, of Ottawa passed away Thursday, November 26, 2020 at her home.

Due to COVID restrictions, private family services will be held. She will be buried at Oakwood Memorial Park. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Helen was born September 21, 1927 in Spring Valley, to Peter and Lenora (Frey)...

Nov 26, 2020

Robert “Stephen” Graham, 66, of Grand Ridge passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 26, 2020 at Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.

Due to COVID restrictions, private family services will be held. He will be buried at St. Columba Cemetery. Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.

Stephen was born January...

Nov 23, 2020

Daniel J. Bute, 69, of Ottawa passed away Monday, November 23, 2020 at his home.

Due to COVID restrictions services will be private. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

For someone that talked about his death more often than most, we were left with very little direction on what he would want us...

Nov 22, 2020

William James "Billy" Sulkey, 50, of Ottawa passed away Sunday, November 22, 2020.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. He will be buried at St. Columba Cemetery. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Billy was born February 4, 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts to William Joseph and Marsha (Olson)...

Nov 19, 2020

Helen Marie (Graham) Repka, 80, of Marseilles passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at her home.

Private family services will be held at St. Columba Church. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery.

Helen was born June 28, 1940 to William J. and Jennie B. (Rickelm) Graham. She was born and raised on...

Nov 15, 2020

Michael (Mickey) J. Leal, 72, of Ottawa, passed away on November 15, 2020. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Ottawa. Graveside services at St. Columba Cemetery will immediately follow. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Mick was born on...