Obituary: Wessels

Donna Mae (Weller) Wessels, 86, of Fairbury, went to heaven to meet her mom, Lucy Mae, for the first time as she passed on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025, at Evenglow Inn in Pontiac. 

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, April 7th, 2025 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury. Pastor Charles Mendoza will officiate with assistance from Pastor Jack Weller. Burial will follow at Avoca Township Cemetery. 

Visitation will be prior to the funeral from 9:00 – 11:00 am on Monday, also at Duffy-Pils Memorial, Fairbury. 

Memorial donations can be made in Donna’s name to the Charity Home Rebekah Lodge or Evenglow Inn – Pontiac. 

Donna was born on September 2nd, 1938 in Morris, IL, the daughter of John Edward and Lucy Mae (Chapple) Weller. She was raised in Dwight by her grandparents Ethel and Anton Weller. Donna married Lynn Fredrick Wessels on June 21, 1958 in Dwight, IL. He preceded her in death on September 12, 1996.

Donna is survived by three daughters: Sandy Harrison, of Saybrook; Sally (Rick) Goembel, of Fairbury; Sue Schove, of Fairbury; and son-in-law Russell Landry. Also surviving are her siblings: Jack (Jo) Weller; Bob Weller; Tony (Tamara) Weller; Deb (Bill) Beatty; Marcia (Gene) Summers; and Pam Reynolds. Donna is survived by 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. 

Preceding Donna in death are her parents, husband, son – Eugene Fredrick Wessels, daughter – Sharon Denise Landry, and two sons-in-law: Curt Harrison and Ernie Schove.

Donna was a lifelong member and leader of the 4-H, Livingston County Home Extension, American Red Cross, Junior Women’s Club, Charity Home Rebekahs Lodge, First United Methodist Church of Fairbury, and she was twice the State President of the Illinois Rebekahs Assembly from 1999-2000 and 2014-2015.

Donna was awarded the title of Fairbury’s Citizen of the Year in 1997. She owned and operated Sew-a-Stitch Fabric Store in Fairbury for 35 years.

Online condolences can be left at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com