Lenora West
Lenora West, 90, of Sesser, Ill. passed away Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 at 10:34 a.m. at her home.
She was born Jan. 2, 1923 at her home in Sesser, Ill. to Joseph and Pierina (Chervaten) Pavletich.
When Lenora and her sister would come home from school they were instructed to only speak English not Croatian, so the family could learn how to speak English.
She married Leon West on June 27, 1944. She moved to Moreinci, Ariz. when Leon was stationed in the military to work at the copper mines. When her husband was called to the European Theater, she moved back to Sesser. After Leon was wounded in the Argon Forrest he was sent to a hospital in London, then he was transferred to Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver, Colo. Lenora joined him in Denver where she lived a block away from the hospital while he recuperated.
Lenora helped with the family business, Eastview Grocery Store. She then moved to St. Louis after graduating from Goode-Barren Township High school and worked for Western Union delivering telegrams and then she worked for Small Arms Ammunition Plant in St. Louis, Mo., she also worked for Sesser Five and Dime and she and her husband operated the Custard Stand in Sesser, Ill. for many years
She was Past President of the American Legion Auxiliary, Past President of the Eastern Star and was a lifelong member of the Sesser United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her children: Marvin Lee West of Sesser/Carbondale, Ill., Kathy Joann West and husband Royce Jackson of Du Quoin, Ill., Cindy Lou Dame-VanHorn and husband Ron of Whittington, Ill. and Melinda Sue and husband Joseph Kelly of Sesser; grandchildren: Christine Leigh and husband Eul Vickers of Scheller, Ill. and Aileen Grace Kelly of Sesser/Carbondale, Ill; step grandchildren: Rachael Jackson of Carbondale and Paul Russell and wife Paige Pestka Jackson of Tallahassee, Fla.; one great grandson: Haystin Andon Vickers; brother and sister: Lawrence Joseph and wife Glenda Pavletich of Sesser, Ill. and Norma Lee Martin of Du Quoin, Ill. and very special caregivers: Glenda Fornear and Daisy Sims. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by parents; husband; one infant sister, Matilda Pavletich; one grandson, Brandon Lee Dame.
Funeral service will be Friday, Jan. 18, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home of Sesser, Ill. with Pastor Joseph Kelly of the Eternal Friends of Christ officiating.
Visitation will be on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013 after 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser, Ill.
She was a wonderful wife, sister, and mother. She was a perpetual teacher she enjoyed helping her children study for test and passing on her love for reading to her children. Her last lesson of life was how she handled her death.
Memorials can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Marshall Browning Tree of Life, Eternal Friends of Christ, or to the donor's choice and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home Sesser, Ill. is in charge of arrangements. For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.