Rowena M. Paternoster, 91, of Fairbury, passed away at 1:35pm, Sunday, September 14, 2014 at Evenglow Lodge, Pontiac.

Private graveside service will be at Avoca Township Cemetery, rural Fairbury with Pastor Charlie McDonald officiating. There will be no public visitation. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials be directed to the American Cancer Society. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is assisting the family with arrangements.

Mrs. Paternoster was born August 30, 1923 in Potwin, KS; the daughter of Harry and Pearl (Coleman) Waters. She came to Fairbury at the age of 6 months. She married Joseph E. Paternoster on November 24, 1943 in Pontiac. Her husband preceded her in death on April 15, 1978.

Survivors include her children, Phillip (Sharen) Paternoster of Fairbury, IL; Barbara Kawa of Peoria, IL; four grandchildren, Cathi (Mike) Coppinger of Fairbury, IL; Shawn (Jen) Dawson of Peoria, IL; Melanie (Russ) Houberg of Troy, IL; and P.J. (Tasha) Paternoster of Collinsville, IL. There are 7 great grandchildren, Haley and Macey Coppinger, Jared and Austin Houberg, Phillip and Serena Paternoster and Rebecca Dawson, one sister, Shirley (Bill) Schwesig of Decatur, IL; one foster brother, Wayne (Lois) Russell of Spring Branch, TX.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, one brother and one daughter, Margery Harris in 2013.

Mrs. Paternoster attended Fairbury Twp. High School where she graduated in 1941. She was a bookkeeper for George Armbruster Plumbing Shop and the Fairbury Locker Plant. Later she was employed by Fairbury Hospital where she worked for over 30 years.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Fairbury. She touched the lives of all who knew her and will be sadly missed by all of her family and friends.