Cecelia C. Whately, 102, Fairbury died at 4:50 pm Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at OSF St. James-John Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, March 14, 2009 at the St. John's Catholic Church, Fairbury with Fr. Scott Archer officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Fairbury.

Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 pm Friday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury with a rosary to be recited at 4:45 pm. The family suggests memorials be given to Fairview Haven Nursing Home, Fairbury.

Mrs. Whately was born January 7, 1907 the daughter of William and Elizabeth Endres Streff. She married Henry W. Whately on February 10, 1926 in Loda, IL. He preceded her in death in November of 1982.

Surviving are two sons, Charles W. (Iva) Whately, Fairbury and Paul E. (Helen) Whately, Plainfield, IL, three sisters, Frances Heindl, Milwaukee, WI, Marie Clark, Champaign, Josephine Davis, Loda.

Also surviving are eight grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by two sisters.

Mrs. Whately was a graduate of Loda High School. With her husband, Henry they farmed in the Fairbury and Chenoa area until 1956. They moved to Fairbury and purchased the News Stand. Later they purchased the Grey Goose Coffee Shop, Fairbury, and combined the newsstand with the coffee shop. After selling the coffee shop, she worked in various retail stores on Locust Street in Fairbury.

She was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and its Altar and Rosary Society. She also volunteered for many organizations. Mrs. Whately was recognized as Fairbury's Citizen of the Year in 1995.