OBITUARIES
Sign an online guestbook at www.thesouthern.com/obituaries
Virginia Douglas
Mary Ellen Dillard
Carbondale
Oct. 13, 1929-Oct. 16, 2013
Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home is
in charge of arrangements
CARBONDALE — Mary Ellen Dillard,
84, acclaimed longtime educator, arts
champion and wife for 63 years of former
Carbondale Mayor Neil Dillard, died
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013, in Memorial
Hospital of Carbondale.
Over a 39-year career as a teacher, principal and school district official in
Southern Illinois, Mary Ellen attracted
legions of admiring students, parents and
colleagues. She had been recognized as a
Master Teacher in the State of Illinois.
Following her retirement in 1994, she was
instrumental in passage of the 1998
Carbondale Elementary School District
95 school referendum.
Although Mary Ellen was not one to
seek out awards and honors, they nevertheless found her many times. She was
inducted into the Carbondale Elementary
School District 95 Hall of Fame in 1996
and was named to the West Frankfort
High School Special Achievement Society
in 1998. She received the Service to
Southern Illinois Award from the
Southern Illinois Alumni Association
Jackson County Chapter in 1994 and the
Alumni Achievement Award for
Distinguished Service from the Southern
Illinois University Alumni Association in
2006.
She was born Oct. 13, 1929, to Ed and
Sophia Shade Donahue, the youngest sibling and only girl in the West Frankfort
household. She met her future husband,
Neil Dillard, while cheerleading at an
eighth-grade basketball game in the same
community.
Mary Ellen graduated from West
Frankfort High School and received a
bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish,
a master’s degree in special education and
a specialist degree in educational administration, all from Southern Illinois
University.
She taught Spanish and English at West
Frankfort High School between 1951 and
1955 starting as a teacher while still a college senior. After stints at Benton Junior
High School and West Frankfort Junior
High School between 1961 and 1964, she
and Neil moved in 1964 to Carbondale,
where she taught language arts and social
studies at Lincoln Junior High School
from 1964 to 1983. Between 1983 and
1985, she served as director of curriculum
for Carbondale Elementary School
District 95. She was a transformative
principal of Thomas Elementary School
in Carbondale between 1985 and 1994.
Many of her students and colleagues from
West Frankfort, Benton and Carbondale
became and remained her close friends.
Following retirement, she shared her
considerable energy, organizational ability and natural leadership skills with
Carbondale Community Arts, Southern
Illinois
Symphony
and
other
organizations.
She
co-chaired
the
ArtWorks
Committee of Carbondale Community
Arts, raising funds for art installed at
Carbondale Community High School,
Carbondale Junior High School and
Parrish and Thomas elementary schools.
Robert Falls of Chicago’s Goodman
Theatre presented her with a sculpture to
recognize her direction of this initiative.
Carbondale Community Arts created a
Mary Ellen Dillard Scholarship for its AllSouthern Summer High School Theatre
Project, holding an annual summer dinner in her name. She supported the
Southern Illinois Symphony as a member
of its Patrons Committee. She was a past
board member of the Alzheimer’s
Association Southern Illinois Chapter,
member of the Carbondale Women’s
Club, and president and 20-year member
of the Parrish Elementary School
Teachers Investment Club.
She is survived by her husband; daughter, Tracy of Chicago; and brother, Bob
Donahue of Nashville, Tenn.
A contribution to a cause she long
championed is requested in lieu of flowers. Mary Ellen Dillard Scholarship Fund,
All-Southern Summer High School
Theatre Project, Carbondale Community
Arts, P.O. Box 1424, Carbondale, IL 62903
Her remarkable life will be celebrated at
a gathering to occur in the near future.
This event will be open to the public.
Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral
Home is in charge of arrangements.
To leave online condolences, visit
www.crainsonline.com.
Vincenza Castrale-Maynard
JOHNSTON CITY —
Vincenza
“Chancha”
Castrale-Maynard,
86,
passed away
at 10 p.m.,
S a t u r d a y,
Oct. 19, 2013
in
Herrin
Hospital with
her
loving
family by her
side.
Castrale Chancha,
Maynard
as she was
known by family and
friends, was born Feb. 26,
1927, in Johnston City, to
Firmino
and
Barbara
(Giacomelli) Castrale.
She was united in marriage to Paul Eugene
Maynard in Johnston City
in 1952.
He preceded her in death
on Sept. 15, 1999.
Chancha
worked
at
Duncan Industries and
General Fairbox for many
years, before she retired
back to Johnston City.
She was a member of St.
Paul’s Catholic Church in
Johnston City.
Chancha loved spending
time with her family, especially her grandchildren
and great-grandchildren.
She enjoyed gambling,
crocheting, gardening and
going to yard sales.
She is survived by four
children, Michael Eugene
Maynard
and
special
friend, Mildred Anderson
of Johnston City, Barbara
Williams of Johnston City,
Steve Maynard and wife,
Debbie of Chicago and
Paula Centera of Johnston
City; six grandchildren,
Paul Raymond Maynard of
Vietnam, John Paul Centera
of Palatine, Christopher
Maynard
of
Chicago,
Allison Maynard of Green
Bay,
Wis.,
Timothy
Maynard and wife, Colleen
of Milwaukee, Wis. and
Katherine Imboden and
husband, Jason of Johnston
City; three great-greatgrandchildren,
Gregory
Prince Morehead, Tatem
Rose Maynard and Shane
Kenneth Imboden; and
numerous
nieces
and
nephews.
In addition to her
husband, she is preceded in
death by her parents; two
grandsons, Jason Williams
and Steven Maynard; and
four sisters, Vincenza
Castrale, Minnie Glodich,
Katie Castrale and Elvera
Nagrodski.
Services will be at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013,
in Pyle Funeral Home in
Johnston
City,
with
Sr. Catherine Wellinghoff
officiating.
Burial will be in Lakeview
Cemetery in Johnston City.
Visitation will be 5 to
8 p.m. Tuesday at the
funeral home with prayer
service at 7 p.m.
Memorial may be made to
Smile Train or St. Jude’s
Children’s Research Center.
For additional information or to sign the online
memorial guest register,
visit
www.pylefuneral
home.com.
2504, UMWA and was the
founder of King City and
Okaw Valley Beagle Clubs.
He loved being active in
his church, was passionate
about his beagles and doing
field trials.
Leighton enjoyed fishing
and dearly loved spending
time with his family.
Survivors include his wife
of 23 years, Mary Posey of
Pinckneyville; three sons,
Timothy (Rhiannon) Lynch
of Elmore, Ohio, Jacob
(Amy) Posey of Yulee, Fla.,
and Charlie Lynch of
Pinckneyville;
three
daughters, Adriana (Chris)
Siefert of Pinckneyville,
Laura (Clif) Dominguez of
Gilbert, Ariz., and Abigail
Posey of Madison, Wis.;
one brother, Carleton (Joy)
Posey of Sequim, Wash.;
one sister, Berndette (Ray)
McFaddin
of
Natural
Bridge, Va.; seven grandchildren, Callie Lamczik,
Shelby Taylor, Zoe Taylor,
Cole Sirmans, Autumn
Lynch, Mason Dominguez
and Caroline Posey; one
great-grandchild, Cayden
Lamczik;
and
many
dear friends.
He was preceded in death
by his parents; and one
sister, Mondaine Brannon.
Services will be at 10 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013,
in Trinity Assembly of God
Church in Pinckneyville,
with the Rev. Paul Ritter
officiating.
Interment will be in
Mueller Hill Cemetery in
Pinckneyville.
Visitation will be from
5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and
from 8 to 10 a.m.
Wednesday at the church.
Memorials may be made
to Trinity Assembly of God
Church in Pinckneyville.
Pyatt Funeral Home in
Pinckneyville is in charge of
arrangements
For more information or
to sign an online guest register, visit www.pyatt
funeralhome.com.
Leighton Posey
PINCKNEYVILLE
— Leighton Ellis Posey, 82,
passed away at 2:49 a.m.
S a t u r d a y,
Oct.
19,
2013,
in
Pinckneyville
Co m m u n i ty
Hospital.
Leighton
was
born
Posey
Aug. 1, 1931,
in Gassaway,
W.V., a son to Ellis and
Lurena Lea (Sands) Posey.
On Oct. 14, 1990, he married Mary Bagley, in
Pinckneyville, and she
survives.
Leighton was a member
of Trinity Assembly of God
Church in Pinckneyville.
He worked as a coal miner
at Burning Star 2 Mine in
Pinckneyville, and was an
iron worker for Local 1825.
He was proud veteran of
the U.S. Navy.
Leighton was a member
of
Presswood-Daffron
American Legion Post
LOCAL & STATE
www.thesouthern.com
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013
DONGOLA — Virginia L.
Douglas, 85, of Dongola,
died at 12:32 p.m. Saturday,
Oct. 19, 2013,
at
her
residence.
She
was
born Oct. 28,
1928,
in
U n i o n
County, the
daughter of
Douglas
M e l l i e
Lawrence, Vera (Sivia)
Lawrence Fisher and stepfather, William Fisher who
raised her since she was
age 5.
She married Fred Douglas
on Oct. 26, 1946, and he
survives.
Virginia was a member of
Wetaug Church of Christ,
Ben Herr Life Association
representative from 1962 to
1988. She retired from
Florsheim Shoe Factory.
Virginia also worked as a
telephone operator and as a
waitress at Cheeko’s and
Bob and Betty’s Café in
Dongola.
She is survived by her
husband, Fred Douglas of
Dongola; daughter-in-law,
Linda Douglas of Tunnel
Hill; grandson, Thomas
Walter “TW” Douglas also
of Tunnel Hill; step-granddaughter, Julie (Jason)
Hammond of Nashville,
Tenn.; two sisters, Betty
McIntire of Dongola and
Billie Kelley of Jonesboro;
one brother, Bob (Jackie)
Fisher of Dongola; two
nieces, Amy (Eric) Plott of
Anna and Paula Cauble of
Dongola; many friends; and
other relatives.
She was preceded in death
by her parents; stepfather,
William Fisher; one son,
Frederick “Rick” Douglas;
one sister, Donna Penrod;
and brother-in-law, Carroll
McIntire.
Services will be at 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in
Crain Funeral Home in
Dongola, with Pastor Tim
Heinecke
officiating.
Interment will follow in
Christian Chapel Cemetery
in Dongola. Visitation will
be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday,
Oct. 21, 2013, at the funeral
home.
Memorials may be made
to
Christian
Chapel
Cemetery or Hospice of
Southern Illinois and will be
accepted at the funeral
home.
To leave online condolences, visit www.crains
online.com.
Janet Bejster
MARION — Janet M.
Bejster, 76, died at 2:02 a.m.
Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, in
Memorial Hospital of
Carbondale.
Arrangements for Janet
M. Bejster have been
entrusted
to
WilsonMcReynolds Funeral Home
in Marion.
TODAY’S EVENT
TRS Town Hall Meeting:
7-8:30 p.m., Carbondale
Community High School
Auditorium, 1301 E. Walnut
St., Carbondale; Dick Ingram
speaking. Will discuss
pension issues with Teachers’
Retirement System members
and public; 217-753-0968,
217-720-3961 or durbanek
@trs.illinois.gov.
5A
GOVERNMENT
Alexander County 911
board, 6 p.m., 3911
Sycamore St., Cairo.
Anna grade school board,
5 p.m., junior high.
Benton planning
commission, 7 p.m., city
hall.
Carbondale Preservation
Commission, 7 p.m., civic
center.
Carrier Mills-Stonefort
school board, 6:30 p.m.,
high school, Carrier Mills.
Century school board,
6 p.m., superintendent’s
office, Ullin.
Chester City Council,
7 p.m., municipal building.
Cobden Village Board,
7 p.m., village hall.
Coulterville Village
Board, 7:30 p.m., village hall.
Crab Orchard school
board, 6 p.m., high school.
De Soto Village Board,
7 p.m., village hall
Ewing-Northern school
board, 6:30 p.m., EwingNorthern Grade School,
Ewing.
Frankfort Community
Park Board, 6 p.m., Aquatic
Center, West Frankfort.
Frankfort school board,
6 p.m., unit office, West
Frankfort.
Franklin County Finance
Committee, 4 p.m.,
courthouse, Benton.
Franklin County Health
and Environment
Committee, 5:15 p.m.,
courthouse, Benton.
Franklin County Road
and Bridge Committee,
5 p.m., courthouse, Benton.
Giant City school board,
7 p.m., school, Carbondale.
Jackson County 911
board, 6 p.m., office,
Carbondale.
Jackson County Health &
Safety Committee,
4:30 p.m., courthouse,
Murphysboro.
Jackson County Mass
Transit District board,
5:30 p.m., administrative
office, Carbondale.
Johnson County Board,
3:30 p.m., board room,
Vienna.
Johnston City school
board, 7 p.m., unit office.
Jonesboro City Council,
7 p.m., city hall
Lick Creek school board,
7:30 p.m., 7355 Lick Creek
Road., school.
Mount Vernon City
Council, 7 p.m., Rolland W.
Lewis Community Building.
Mount Vernon Township
high school board, 7 p.m.,
school.
Murphysboro
committees, 5:30 p.m.,
city hall.
Nashville school board,
6 p.m., high school.
New Burnside village
board, 7 p.m., village hall.
Randolph County
Housing Authority,
12:30 p.m., office, Chester.
Sesser library board,
5:30 p.m., library.
Sparta school board,
7 p.m., Lincoln Middle
School.
Steeleville school
board, 6:30 p.m., high
school.
Trico school board,
6:30 p.m., junior high,
Campbell Hill.
Valier Village Board,
7 p.m., village hall.
Vienna High School
board, 7 p.m., school.
Zeigler-Royalton school
board, 6:30 p.m., high
school, Zeigler.
BRIEFLY
last month. The 31-yearold moved to the area
from Texas for the job.
MOLINE — Outgoing
Dixon isn’t alone in its
Illinois Supreme Court
low number of female
Chief Justice Thomas
firefighters.
Kilbride is being
The newspaper reports
remembered for his push that nearby Sterling has
to bring cameras into
never had any female
courtrooms and lobbying firefighters and Rock
for a pilot project to allow Falls has only had one.
electronic filing of
documents.
State to renovate
Kilbride’s three-year
600 housing units
term expires this week.
He’ll be replaced by
CHICAGO — A new
Justice Rita Garman and
state program will help
resume his associate
finance the preservation
justice post.
of about 600 affordable
The Democrat was first housing units for people
elected to the high court
with disabilities and
in 2000. He practiced law seniors in Chicago and
for two decades in Rock
Peoria.
Island.
Gov. Pat Quinn
Even with his push to
announced the projects
modernize the courts, he Saturday. They’re the first
told the Quad Citiesunder an Illinois Housing
Times for a story
Development Authority
published Sunday that
program known as
some things haven’t
Preservation Now. Quinn
changed since the days of says the project will
Abraham Lincoln.
preserve affordable
Kilbride started the
housing for hundreds of
cameras pilot project a
families and create more
year ago. It opens trial
than 500 jobs. He said
courtrooms to news
it’s more important than
photographers and
ever to maintain
electronic news media to reasonably priced rental
cover cases.
homes for Illinois
residents.
In Peoria, IHDA is
Dixon hires first
providing about
female firefighter
$30 million in lowDIXON — The fire
interest loans to
department in the
rehabilitate 478 units in
northern Illinois
four developments.
community of Dixon has
The Chicago project
marked a milestone —
provides about
hiring its first female
$18 million in loans to buy
firefighter.
and rehabilitate a 100The (Dixon) Telegraph
unit high-rise for seniors
reported that Crystal
on the city’s north side.
— The Associated Press
Brasington started work
Garman to take
chief justice post
WHAT’S COMING
“Pink Out” day: Tuesday, Rend Lake
College, 468 Ken Gray Parkway, Ina; faculty,
staff, students, t-shirts available in the
bookstore, proceeds go to Women With
Hope; 618-437-5321.
SIC Health Fair: 9 a.m.-noon, Wednesday,
Southeastern Illinois College, Student
Center, “B” building, Harrisburg; Kidney
Mobile, outside bottom of A/B building
provides screenings, urinalysis, body mass
index, glucose testing, on-site results,
consultations; screenings done in Student
Center; 618-252-5400.
Blood Drive: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday,
Anna-Jonesboro Community High School,
608 S. Main St., Anna; donate blood or
platelets, schedule an appointment;
800 733-2767 or www.redcrossblood.org.
Blood Drive: 1-6 p.m., Thursday, St.
Francis de Sales, 116 S. 6th St., Paducah;
donate blood or platelets, schedule an
appointment; 800 733-2767 or
www.redcrossblood.org.
Zumba for Hope: 5-8 p.m., Thursday, SIU
Rec Center, Carbondale; door prizes,
T-shirts, raffles, workout to support SIH
Cancer Center, donations are welcome and
are tax-deductible; 309-258-8424 or
b_bailey368@yahoo.com.
Science Café: 7 p.m., Thursday, University
Mall, Science Center of Southern Illinois,
Carbondale; “Invasive Species for Lunch?,”
James Garvey discusses proposal to control
two species of fish, free and open to the
public, 618-549-2565 or 618-529-5431.
Blood Drive: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Friday,
Massac Memorial Hospital, 28 Chick St.,
Metropolis; donate blood or platelets,
schedule an appointment; 800 733-2767 or
www.redcrossblood.org.
Treat Walk: 5:30-7 p.m., Friday, behind Star
Centre Mall, Marion; sponsored by Liberty
Manor, parent and children (under 12) are
invited to show off costumes, through
Parkway Manor, Hawthorne Inn, Parkway
Estates; 618-993-8600 or 618-889-3729.
Fire Station of Horrors: 7:30-10:30 p.m.,
Friday and Saturday, Anna Arts Center, 125 W.
Davie St., Anna; $5 per person, $20 for
groups of 6, proceeds go to maintenance and
renovations of the Anna Arts Center;
904-635-1109.