Date of Birth
Nov 03,1925
Date of Death
Mar 19,2016
Barbara Ann Sanderson, age 90 of Earlville, formerly of Wasco went to be with her lord on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at the Mendota Lutheran Home in Mendota, IL.
Barb was born into this world on Tuesday, November 3, 1925, in Chicago to the happy parents of Henry Kizer and Mai Evelyn (Blackman) Bailey.
Barb grew up in Chicago before moving to almost 11 different homes between here and the south eastern United States which included Cincinnati, OH, Birmingham, AL and finally Nashville, TN. Barb completed 10 years of schooling between Chicago and Nashville. She was proud to earn her GED at the young age of 50.
She met the love of her life James B. Sanderson while he was stationed at the Air Force base in Nashville near the end of World War II. Barb and Jim were very independent people but were supportive of each other’s independence. However when they combined forces they were a power that could not be matched. Barb would have to bludgeon their way out of whatever trouble Jim got them in and yes, vise versa. Her love left this world on June 22, 2000.
After they were married they embarked on an extended honeymoon. Traveling from Nashville to New England to meet Barb’s new in-laws and on to California (well that was the plan). While on their way to California and after finding out Barb was pregnant with their first child they stopped in Chicago. Barb was then told she would not make it to California while pregnant. This is where and when they decided never to leave Illinois. Barb and Jim settled in Wasco, IL on Easter Eve of 1952.
Barb worked mainly as a homemaker but she also worked at Southern Bell and Illinois Bell Telephone Companies first in Nashville and then in Geneva.
She was a proud life member of the Wasco American Legion Auxiliary, and was a member of Baker Memorial United Methodist Church formerly known as the First United Methodist Church in St. Charles. Barb volunteered for fund raisers for the American cancer society and seemed to be the “Go To” person when an organization needed help. She also was a brownie and Girl Scout leader.
Barb was the church secretary and Sunday school teacher for 13 years at the Methodist church in St. Charles. She was a nature buff. Barb knew every leaf, insect, animal and flower. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, quilting, and making her own ingredients which included butter and mustard. When moved to Earlville she was the neighborhood watch lady. Barb absolutely loved to dance she even invented some of her own dancing steps! She was a big fan of 40’s music, big band, and Andrew sisters.
She now leaves her daughters; Jane Sandison, Maureen (Gary) Ayala, 5 grandchildren Brandon (Lisa) Harness, Erin (Bryan) Kunath, Lindsay (Correy Barton) Ayala, Tony (Jen) Ayala, Lauren (Greg) Rutherford. 9 great grandchildren, Christina (Branagen Theisen) Harness, Meghann Harness, Emily Harness, Taylor Kunath, Adam Kunath, Natalie Barton, Carly Ayala, and Connor Ayala and one great-great granddaughter Arabella Theisen and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She now joins her husband James B. Sanderson, her daughter Patricia Sanderson, her parents and 2 siblings and great grandson Blake Ayala.
A visitation will be from 2:00 – 4:00 P.M. at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce Street, Elburn, IL, Monday, March 28, 2016. The funeral service will begin at 4:00 P.M. also at the funeral home, with burial following at Garfield Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in her name to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association: Checks may be made to the “Alzheimer’s Association” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011. Tributes may also be forwarded to Conley Funeral Home in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119 or on the web at www.conleycare.com or our Facebook page.
The funeral service will begin at 4:00 P.M. also at the funeral home, with burial following at Garfield Cemetery.
A visitation will be from 2:00 – 4:00 P.M. at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce Street, Elburn, IL, Monday, March 28, 2016.
The funeral service will begin at 4:00 P.M. also at the funeral home, with burial following at Garfield Cemetery.