Obituary for Patricia Francis Wolstenholm
Patricia Francis Wolstenholm, age 95, was born at home in Bartonville, Illinois, on December 12, 1928 to Ernest and Faye Turner Rhodes. She passed away peacefully on January 13, 2024 at Arc at Chillicothe Heritage Health, Illinois. She is survived by her three sons: Ronald (Diane) of Bloomingdale, Illinois and Fort Myers, Florida; Carey (Christine) of Naperville, Illinois and Punta Gorda, Florida; and Gene (Justteen) of Peoria, Illinois. Proud grandmother of Scott (Katherine) of San Jose, California; Jason (Joanne Rakes) of Plainfield, Illinois; Ryan (Lisa) of Oswego, Illinois; and Caitlin-Schell Woods (Zack) of Washington, Illinois. Great grandmother of Jack, Hana, Reid, Nora, Oliver, Madeline, and Giselle.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Justin; sibling, Elmer Rhodes (Lydia); daughters, Sally Whittemore (Michael); and Susan (baby).
Patricia graduated from Peoria Manual High School in 1946 where she met her best friend and future husband, Justin. They were married for almost 65 years. She danced for the USO at Navy Pier in Chicago and many local army camps as a teenager during WWII. She was a happy stay at home mom and a member of the First Baptist Church in Peoria for almost 70 years. Along with her husband, Justin, she was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame (as Friends of Basketball) for being part of Peoria High School basketball for 25 years.
Very important to Patricia was her beloved family and friends. Her best friend, Dolores Moretto, was missed daily as a true friend. Several social groups also played a significant role in her life: the “girls” from Bartonville Grade School who stayed together through the years, the pinochle group who were good friends to have, and a really fun set of friends from the First Baptist Church (the Sunday Night Group) for over 50 years. Patricia said that the above mentioned people “were all friends of her heart”.
No service is planned and her cremated remains will be buried next to her husband’s and daughter’s sites at Swan Lake Memory Gardens - The Last Supper Section. A celebration of her life will be held at a family reunion this coming summer.
The family wishes to thank Kristy Hall and Angela Renfroe (hospice nurses) and Jackie Kipfer (hospice social worker) at Vitas Healthcare for their dedication and caring service to Patricia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vitas Healthcare, Attn: Laurie, 1040 4th Street, Peru, Illinois 61354.
The Cremation Society of Mid-Illinois Co. Pekin/Peoria is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at csmico.com
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