Lorraine Williams

LORRAINE M. WILLIAMS, age 95, of Elburn, passed away peacefully Saturday morning, January 15, 2011, at the Provena Care Center, Geneva, where she has made her home for a number of years. After a life filled with memories, it is now a "home-going" to celebrate.Lorraine was born on February 7, 1915, in Kaneville, IL, the daughter of Charles and Martha (Frank) Strobert. She grew up in the Hinckley area where she attended Hinckley High School. In 1933, her family moved to the south side of Elburn while Lorraine stayed in Hinckley to finish high school. Though the actual time and place that Lorraine met Leslie O. Williams is uncertain it is probable that it was an evening at Long’s Barn on a Saturday night. On February 7, 1935, Lorraine and Leslie were united in marriage by the Rev. Stanton in Plano. The newlyweds made their home on the Williams farm in Kaneville for a time. Then, moving several times as their family grew they came to make their home in Elburn in the mid-1940’s. For a number of years, they lived on Pierce St. and then in the 1960’s they moved into the house that Les and his kids built on Shannon St. where Lorraine made her home until moving to the Provena Care Center.Lorraine worked for a time at the Elgin Watch Factory during WW II and later at Furnas Electric in Batavia where she retired after 20 years. But, her first love was always at home with her husband, children and extended family. Her door was always open, the kitchen was filled with delightful scents of fresh baked treats, there was a household full of children with never a dull moment. Lorraine was well known for being a great cook and her baking was second to none. Her large, extended family all came "home" to the William’s house for family celebrations and holidays where the tables were heavily laden with the bounty created by good cooks and the air was filled with laughter and the sounds of a family gathered around.In later years, with the children grown she had the time to take up her passion for painting taking classes and excelling in painting country scenery with barns being her specialty. It was then that she had the chance to travel as well and made many trips across the country and to Hawaii. Time and the loss of her eyesight would still her paint brush but the gift of her art lingers on now and the memories will remain for generations to come.Lorraine was a member of the Community Congregational Church, the Women’s Guild and the Tuesday Craft Group. She was also a member of the Elburn Sunset Swingers, the Mother’s Club, the Aurora Moose Lodge #400 and the Ladies Auxiliary Batavia VFW Post #1197. She is survived by five children: Donna (Dean) Clayton and Jodeen (Wayne) Byerhof, all of Elburn, Dennis L. (Susan) Williams of Greenville, SC, Donald R. (Jennifer) Williams of Poynette, WI and Ronald E. (Carol) Williams of Maple Park; 9 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 5 great great-grandchildren; one sister, Joan (Eugene) Ryan of Elburn; one sister-in-law, Marilyn Strobert of DeKalb, IL; many nieces and nephews and a family of friends.She is preceded in death by her husband, Leslie; her parents; one sister, U. Sylvia (Newt) Braddy; two brothers, Harley Strobert and Lester Strobert, two sister-in-laws, Violet Strobert and Viola Williams,and brother-in-law Floyd Williams.Her visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 from 3:00 – 6:30 p.m. with a funeral to celebrate her life to be held at 7 p.m. at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. Private family interment will follow at a later date at Blackberry Cemetery, Elburn.In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her name to benefit her favorite charities. Checks may be made to the Lorraine Williams Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may be forwarded to the family at the same address or through the web at www.conleycare.com. 1-800-8CONLEY.

visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 from 3:00 - 6:30 p.m. with a funeral to celebrate her life to be held at 7 p.m. at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL.

Private family interment will follow at a later date at Blackberry Cemetery, Elburn.