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September 12, 1917 - |
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Afterglow |
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Winnie passed away peacefully, Tuesday afternoon, January 22, 2002; coming finally to the end of life's journey, she joins now those who had long awaited her coming. Surrounded by her family and supported by many prayers, Winnie followed the long and winding labyrinth of recent years. With a will of steel, yet a sweetness that touched the hearts of all of her aids and caregivers, Winnie carried the cross of her life with courage until her Savior came to exchange it for a crown. She was born on September 12, 1917, in Beatrice, NE, the first daughter of Herbert Martin and Grace Margaret (McNutt) McMurray. She spent the first years of her life on a farm just west of Liberty. When she was just past two years of age, her dad decided to move the family to Fort Morgan, CO. Herbert worked in a beet canning factory for a time and then, after a year, he moved the family to Otis, CO, where he had rented a ranch. Winnie had no fear of the animals or the call of adventure that lay beyond the barnyard. When "old Mike", the old plow horse, put his head down to eat out of the feed box, three year old Winnie climbed up his nose, over his head and perched on his neck. She couldn't understand why her dad was upset when he found her there, she felt perfectly safe. Herbert bought Winnie a pony named Billie and he was her best friend and constant companion. About 1923, it became necessary for the family to return to Nebraska where they made their home near Liberty. Winnie was about six when she began riding Billie to the Prairie Queen School, several miles from the farm. She was a tomboy from the start, learning to care for her pony, butcher chickens, milk cows, hit a target with her left handed throw and handle the bully on the playground.
As she settled into life in the little town of Elburn, Winnie made many new friends including Eloise Conley, who lived across the street. Her friendship with Eloise led to Eloise's older brother, Chuck, who would forever be amazed that the pretty girl across the street was interested in him.
(Picture at Right)
In 1952, they moved to the Kindburg house across the block. Chuck had a plan to eventually make the house into a funeral home. Winnie began a lifetime of renovation, furniture moving, cooking and sharing her house and her family with the world. The coffee pot was always on; it was never too early for breakfast or too late for supper. The Conley telephones were "never alone", the Elburn Fire Department and Conley Ambulance Service were dispatched from her dining room, and on a day's notice she turned her house into a funeral home. One of the proudest moments of Winnie's life came when she earned her funeral director's license and with it, the right to serve professionally beside Chuck. Together, their lives were a ministry to the community that went far beyond funeral service. In the midst of emergencies, Winnie was a loving wife, mother and grandmother whose quiet strength stood by her husband, children and grandchildren as well as countless others whose hour of sorrow brought her to their side.
On October 13, 1990, Chuck lost his battle with cancer and Winnie continued on alone. She found her solace in her work and her family. Although failing health challenged her greatly in recent years, she fought her way back from numerous surgeries to take her place at the funeral home, seated near the register stand to greet old friends at visitations. With grace and a quiet acceptance, she left her home and took up life with her son, Bruce, and his family. Away from the work that had defined her life, a new definition was forged in Winnie's declining years through a special relationship with her granddaughter, Sarah. When Sarah's baseball team, "The Rebels" went downstate to compete, Winnie went along as the "Rebel Grandma", complete with hat, shirt and lettering on her car. Each time Winnie emerged from surgery to face another climb up the "glass hill of rehab", Sarah was her cheerleader and indomitable advocate. During that same time she was blessed with the birth of two great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Katherine, who have brought joy and smiles to her life. There will be memories shared for many years to come as the stories are told and retold through the generations. There will be memories shared for many years to come as the stories are told and retold through the generations. Whenever her famous "cherry jello" is placed on the dinner table, the aroma of roast beef fills the kitchen or someone attempts to dip onion sets in chocolate memories of Winnie will be there. She was a faithful member of the Community Congregational Church, Elburn, the Illinois Funeral Director's Assoc., a charter member of the Elburn Firemen's Auxiliary; a member of the Fox Valley Chapter, O.E.S. and served as Worthy Matron of Anemone Chapter #678 a number of times. She is survived by two children: Karen (Les) Howard and Bruce (Kristine) Conley; four grandchildren: Sheila (Phillip) Albano and Bill Howard of Elburn, Benjamin (Carolyn) Conley of St. Charles and Sarah Conley, also of Elburn; two great-grandchildren, Nicholas Charles and Katherine Grace Albano; two sisters, Ruth (George) McCloud of Elburn and Ferne (Ralph) Conley of Geneva; one brother-in-law, Harold (Buelah) Vance of Fulton, IL; eight nieces and nephews, a number of great nieces and nephews, cousins and a community of friends. She is preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Chuck; one son, Wayne, in infancy; one great-grandchild, Jamie Morgan Howard, also in infancy; and her sister-in-law, Eloise Vance. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held at 10:30am Saturday morning, January 26, 2002, from the Community Congregational Church, Elburn. The Rev. Katherine A. Lawes will officiate and interment will follow at Blackberry Cemetery, Elburn. A memorial has been established in her name at the Community Congregational Church, Elburn. Memorial donations as well as remembrances and relfections may be mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL, 60119 or composed and e-mailed to info@conleycare.com.
...I love you truly, Truly dear. |
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When she was in the seventh grade, the family moved to College View, a suburb of Lincoln. It was a big change going from a one
room school to a big city school, where she was the tallest in her class. Though she never lost all of her tomboy ways, Winnie grew into a beautiful young woman with an eye for pretty things and
the sewing skills to create them. She graduated from College View High School with the class of 1935, and began working at a variety store, doing housework for some nearby families and
sewing to bring home a paycheck. In 1936, her aunt and uncle, Emerit and Jennie Hughes, from Elburn, Illinois, came for a visit. Work was scarce in Nebraska and they invited her to return with
them to Illinois where she could earn her board and room, plus five dollars a week, by keeping house for them. And so the decision was made, and Winnie began the journey that would change her life.
After three years of dating, the wedding was announced by hand delivered walnut shells containing this note: "The Date: February. 6,
1941, The Time: 7:30pm, The Place: Congregational Church" signed "Chuck & Winnie". Winnie made her wedding dress, at the cost of $7; she would wear it again forty years later when Chuck and
Winnie renewed their vows. They made their home in a little third floor apartment in Chuck's parent's house. There were three generations living in the Conley household sharing one bathroom and
a big kitchen. After the start of WW II, Chuck and Winnie both worked the 3 to 11 shift at Burgess Norton Manufacturing in Geneva. Winnie found that she couldn't sleep during the 
day and soon took
a job at Starr's Dime Store in Elburn, as well as baking and sewing to earn extra money.
A year later, Winnie's sisters, Ruth and Ferne, came from Nebraska and lived with Chuck and Winnie for a time. Their daughter, Karen, was born in
1945, and shortly afterwards Winnie's parents came to make their home with them. On January 21, 1948, Wayne Charles Conley was born with complications, he would live only three
months, leaving Winnie with a loss that she would carry for all of her life. On April 13, 1950, they were blessed with a second son, Bruce, and their family was complete.
In 1971, Winnie went to an auction and much to everyone's surprise bought the Bateman house, a home she had long admired
from afar. In 1974, Chuck and Winnie once again had a home to themselves as they settled into their dreamhouse. Winnie loved the old house, Chuck continued to "remodel" and they hoped to
spend the rest of their lives there together. The big, old fashioned dining room table was laden every Sunday with the family meal as children, grandchildren, and countless others gathered to share in
the Conley tradition. No matter how busy she was, Winnie always managed to prepare Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners. 510 South Main was the place where all family birthdays and special
events were celebrated. Winnie managed a busy schedule at the funeral home, always had time for a grandchild to spend the night, welcomed friends and neighbors, and enjoyed her lifelong love of
practical jokes. There was never a shortage of love, laughter, compassion, a listening ear or shoulder to lean on in Winnie's home.
"I Love You Truly" sung at Chuck and Winnie's wedding.