Telva Williams

TELVA WILLIAMS, 92, of Arcola, IL passed away at 11:00 A.M. on Sunday, February 10, 2013 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, February 15, 2013 at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Arcola, IL. Father Barry Harmon will officiate. Burial will be in the Arcola Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 14, 2013 at the Edwards Funeral Home in Arcola, IL.

Telva (Toddy) was born on April 21, 1920 in Brownton, MN. She was a daughter of Frederick and Iva Ethel (Martin) Urbach. She married Robert Joseph Williams on July 14, 1944.

She is survived by seven children, Cheryl Switzer and her husband Larry of Arcola, IL, Rob Williams and his wife Shirley of Gills Rock, WI, Mary Ciaccio of Champaign, IL, Timothy Williams and his wife Luz Marina of Riverside, IL, Patrick Williams of Arcola, IL, Michael Williams and his wife Debbie of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and John Williams and his wife Carolyn of Mahomet, IL; 21 grandchildren, Mark Switzer and Shannon, Mindy Moomaw and John, Shelly Daniel, Jessica White and Thadeus, Kyle Williams, Christopher Ciaccio and Brooke, Jen Ciaccio, Nick Ciaccio and JJ Pereira, Sarah Ciaccio, Megan Zumpano and Tony, Liz Ciaccio, Jose Campos, Bridget Williams, Samuel Williams, Emma Williams, Joshua Williams, Olivia Williams, John Mathew Williams, James Williams, Christopher Williams and Katie Williams; sixteen great-grandchildren; three siblings, Jeanne Arthur and her husband Clayton of Portland, OR, William Klopfleisch and his wife Mary Jane of Arcola, IL and Harriet Haney and her husband Bob of Olney, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her stepfather, Carl Christopher Klopfleisch, her husband, two daughters, Kim Therese Williams and Jennifer Jean Williams and an infant great-granddaughter, Macayla Ann Moomaw.

Telva began teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in Brownton, MN. She wore many hats, acting as principal, janitor and teacher for eight grades. After moving to Arcola, she started the Head Start Program and worked as a librarian in both the Arcola Schools and the Arcola Public Library. She retired as head librarian of the Arcola Public Library with over 35 years of service.

Telva was a member of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Arcola where she served on the Altar and Rosary Society. She was also a member of the Arcola Women’s Club and received the Woman of Achievement Award for the State of Illinois in 2001. She also served as Grand Marshal for the Arcola Broomcorn Festival in 2001.

She enjoyed music; playing the piano, singing and dancing. She regularly played Bunco and enjoyed cooking, reading and shopping on QVC.

Memorials may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church or the Arcola Public Library District.