Obituary of Roberta Jean Channell

On December 28, 2023, Roberta Jean Channell (Whittington) passed away peacefully at the age of 97. She was born August 30, 1926 in Franklin County, Illinois to Arthur and Velma Whittington. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, John, Kenneth, Charles, Noel and Jerry Whittington and sisters, Mildred Hill (Whittington), Ila Gibbons (Whittington) and Mary Bradley (Whittington) and her beloved granddaughter, Rebecca Lynn Heraver. 

She is survived by children, Wayne (Jane) Channell,  Allan Channell, Laurie (Wai Wan) Channell, Darrell (Mary) Channell, and Lisa (Chuck) Heraver; grandchildren, Carie (Adam) Johnson, Kimberly Gonyo, Leah (Brian) McGowen, Andrew Heraver; great grandchildren, Kiona Babel, Ethan (Chloe) Babel, Greta Johnson, Aeron Johnson, Ole Johnson and many nieces and nephews, especially Gary (Susan) Gibbons and Greg Gibbons, sons of her sister, Ila (Karel) Gibbons.

As a child she attended Conner College for eight years and later graduated from Benton Township High School.  In the sixties she graduated from the Mueller School of Beauty Culture and earned her degree in Cosmetology. She had a salon in her home and worked many hours tending to family, home and working in the salon. In later years she had a home built in Winthrop Harbor where her son Allan lived with and helped her for many years. When the time came, she moved in with Laurie who retired to take care of her. Hospice Alliance of Pleasant Prairie, provided exemplary support for Roberta and her family during the final weeks of her life. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and she will be sadly missed.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, January 13, 2024 at the Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan road, Zion, IL at 11:00 am. Visitation will take place at 10:00 am until time of service. Interment to be private at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park in Zion, IL.