Bennett McLemore

Date of Birth

Nov 14,1970

Date of Death

Apr 25,2019

Bennett “Ben” McLemore Copley, age 48, of Rochelle, IL, passed peacefully into Heaven, Thursday, April 25, 2019.
He was born November 14, 1970 in Chicago, IL, to proud parents, Howard and Kathleen (Neace) Copley.
Ben grew up in Chicago and attended local schools. He graduated from Holy Cross High School in River Grove, IL, with the class of 1988.
Ben continued his education at a local trade school before working for various care dealerships including Biggers Chevrolet and Finney Chrysler.
Welch Brothers in Elgin was his next stop where Ben worked as a mechanic for two years.
Ben enjoyed being outdoors and often kept himself busy with landscaping. He loved classic rock and jammed out to many of the greats while driving in his car. He was also an avid photographer of people and animals, but any memory worth remembering was captured in Ben’s camera. Ben had a faith that was born partly from his schooling but also had roots in the personal relationship with God and grew over time. He battled with Schizophrenic tendencies and fought to remain true to himself. Ben’s loving heart kept beating, but there remained something missing in the aftermath of Victoria’s loss. Even so, he was a friend to the many homeless in Sycamore. He would give them his last dollar and went without for himself. In time, declining health brought him into the care of the Rochelle Gardens Care Center, where he had made his home in recent years.

He is survived by his parents, Howard and Kathleen Copley; nieces, Jacquelyn Drygalski, Julianne Drygalski, and nephew Steven Drygalski; several aunts, uncles, cousins and a family of loyal friends who will miss him dearly.
He is preceded in death by his sister Victoria Lynn Drygalski.
Visitation will be Monday, April 29, 2019, from 4-8 p.m., at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. A funeral to celebrate his life will be 11 a.m., with a time of visitation from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30, at Conley Funeral Home with interment to follow at Union Cemetery in Burlington, IL.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made on Facebook at Tibetan Mastiff Rescue Inc. Tributes may also be forwarded to the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com where you can find his full life story.

A funeral to celebrate his life will be 11 a.m., with a time of visitation from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30, at Conley Funeral Home with interment to follow at Union Cemetery in Burlington, IL.

Visitation will be Monday, April 29, 2019, from 4-8 p.m., at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119.

Union Cemetery

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