Susan C. Wilkinson 1946 - 2021

So many of you have been faithful prayer warriors over the past several years, and even more so this summer, as we have walked through memory loss and declining health due to strokes my mom suffered. As we said good-bye to my mom early morning, Friday, August 6th, I know I will see her again in heaven. 

One of my dear friends sent me these words that were a perfect reminder, "What a party they are having in heaven right now! Welcoming their sister, daughter, friend. Jesus holding her hand & love over her unspeakable." 

As her body slowly failed in the last few weeks, I was with her a lot in the hospital. At the time we didn't realize that we were hearing her last words to us. I am so thankful that I got to witness her last words to my dad and siblings and they were the same to each of us, "I love you too." 

Even through the grief we have so much to be thankful for and we thank Jesus for each of them.

I am sharing her obituary along with the eulogy that I wrote and read during her funeral service. If I am able, I will add the sermon that her pastor gave. 

 

Obituary 

WYOMING Susan Christina (Hill) Wilkinson, 75, of Wyoming, IL passed away August 6, 2021 at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, IL after experiencing several strokes.

She was born February 28, 1946 in Peoria, IL to Melvin and Christina “Adron” Hill. She grew up in the Averyville neighborhood, attended Kingman Grade School, Woodruff High School, and the Madison Avenue Methodist Church. On June 26, 1971 she married William “Bill” H. Wilkinson and moved to Wyoming, IL. He survives. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Melvin “Lyle” Hill, II. His wife Christine, of Surprise, AZ and their daughters Nancy of Lombard, IL and Dana of Chicago, IL survive. Also surviving is her lifelong friend and “sister of heart” Martha (Don) Rennau of East Peoria.

Surviving are three children, Christina (Jim) Lauwerens of Rochester, IL, Anita Wilkinson of Pekin, IL (formerly Henry, IL), Raymond Wilkinson of El Paso, IL, five grandchildren Jordan, Caitlin, and Jared Lauwerens, and Haden and Hunter Wilkinson. She is also survived by Bill’s siblings Jim (Barb) Wilkinson of Huntsville, AL, Jeanette Wilkinson of Macomb, IL, Pat (Ed) Borop of Peoria (formerly Chillicothe), Rhonda Wilkinson of Canton, David Wilkinson of Sparland; and by many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews who live throughout Illinois, California, and Alabama. She was also preceded in death by her sister-in-law Becky (Steve) Bogner of Sparland, IL and niece Jennifer Wilkinson of Pekin, IL.

Susan taught high school home economics in Atlanta, IL (1968-71) and Bradford, IL (1985 – 92) and home economics and literature at Stark County Jr. High (1992-2006). Throughout her life she volunteered in many different roles for Illinois 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Wyoming United Methodist Church where she was a faithful member for 50 years.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, August 13, 2021 at Haskell Funeral & Cremation Services in Wyoming. Her funeral service will be graveside at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 14, 2021. Rev. Rebecca Klemm will officiate.

Memorial contributions can be made to Wyoming United Methodist Church.

 Eulogy

A little over 5 years ago my mom began to lose her memory. As I thought about the words I wanted to share today, the Lord prompted me to think about the things that mom held on to as her memory faded more and more.

These are some things that she never lost…

• Her ability to choose Joy and share it with others

Philippians 4:4  “Always be full of joy in the Lord, I say it to you again – rejoice.”

My mom held on to enough jokes and one liners to keep people laughing with her. I had more than one doctor comment that her quick wit threw them off track in her neurological assessments. When it came to joking around, she stayed pretty sharp. In May at Jordan’s graduation party, I sat amazed listening to her and my cousin Jim “raz” each other. The two of them sure did have fun together that day. Her oldest grandson Jared was probably her favorite person to joke around with.

In the days since her death we have heard several stories and I found it interesting how many of our neighbors, childhood friends, and her former students commented to us in person and online about mom’s sweet smile.

Despite all of my efforts to improve her nutritious food choices, she never gave up her McDonald Happy Meals and dark chocolate M&Ms. She loved the M&Ms, but the Happy Meal was more about getting the toy for the grandkids than it was about the food. Bringing joy to others was important to her.

Even when she was in the hospital in July, she was barely able to communicate, but her nurses would comment to us how sweet our mother is and they loved coming in her room.

That Joy is nothing we can create ourselves. That is from the Lord. In John 15:10-11 Jesus was teaching His disciples when He said “If you keep my commandments, you remain in my love…I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow.”

• She celebrated life even in difficult times

She continued to send birthday day and anniversary cards all the way through June of this year.    She and dad always called us on our birthdays to sing Happy Birthday.

She always enjoyed and looked forward to going to the grandkids special events – graduations, school plays, sports.

One of her favorite ways to celebrate life was to spend time with dad and their friends. They made a special effort to go out to eat or to play cards with their friends. As time went on she was able to recount less and less details about their time out, but that didn’t take away from her excitement for the next time she got to see her friends. (On a side note…she always “remembered” that she won when they played Phase 10….even when she didn’t really win. She never lost her competitive spirit either.)

Jesus is a perfect example of choosing to celebrate even in dark times.

In Matthew 26:18 it tells us that Jesus knew his time on earth was coming to an end but he still celebrated the Passover meal with his closest friends.

• Her faith

About a year ago, she lost the ability to track dates and times…unless it was Sunday at 10:30. She always knew it was time for church, no matter if she was watching it online or going in person. When they opened back up to meet in person, she and dad were part of the handful of people who were sitting in the pews.

The two songs we chose to play today were chosen for 2 reasons: A) They are by her favorite group The Statler Brothers and B) They were the two songs she was able to sing along to the choruses…even in the hospital. Jesus Loves Me and Amazing Grace. Some of the most important truths describing her relationship with Jesus are explained in those songs and they were sealed deep in her brain and heart.

Ephesians 2: 8 – 9 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this, it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

• Her love of her husband

I really wanted to group her kids and grand kids into this section too, but the reality is her love for our dad was way deeper. They were married for 50 years and we are so thankful that we were able to celebrate that on June 26. As her memory loss progressed one of the most important things to her was to be near my dad. If he was outside working in the garage or working on a project in the yard, she would either come out and check on him often or just come sit out there and watch him work. And when she was in the hospital you could see her relief when dad arrived and sat and held her hand.

Celebrating life, sharing joy, being faithful and loving others….

These are the things that mattered most to her…..in the end, she wasn’t worried about a clean house, or fancy new clothes, or making more money. She lived out the scripture in what we often hear referred to as the love chapter… 1 Corinthians 1:13 – There are three things that will endure – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.

While we know that my mom wasn’t perfect…none of us are….I hope that each of us can take these lessons to heart and apply them in our own lives. But don’t look to Susan as your example. The perfect example is Jesus Christ. Follow Jesus. Look to His words given to us in the Bible.

I leave you with one of the most impactful scriptures in the Bible…

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.