OBITUARY: Elfrieda Marie Stowe Gladu

Elfrieda Marie Stowe Gladu went home to the Lord on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014.

She was born in Clifton on April 17, 1917, the daughter of Robert Earl and Laurena Christensen Heck. She was raised there and in Kankakee, graduating from Kankakee High School in 1934. She married Arthur Marvin Stowe on May 12, 1935. They had four children together. Arthur died in 1950. Elfrieda raised her children and had nine grandchildren when she married Arthur W. Gladu on Dec. 18, 1964. They eventually retired and moved to Carmi in 1980. Arthur died in 1983. She had worked at Bear Brand Hosiery in Kankakee and also as bookkeeper, greeter and secretary in a Finance Company there. Elfrieda was a typist and secretary at the U.S. Army Depot in Granite City. She was an active member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church. She enjoyed line dancing, quilting, sewing, crocheting, knitting and reading.

Elfrieda was preceeded in death by her parents; both husbands; a son, George Arthur Stowe; three brothers, LaVerne, Orville and Glen Heck; one sister, Ruth Heck; two grandsons, Douglas and David Whitman; and one great-grandson, Steven Reynolds.

She is survived by her children, Jeraldine (Chuck) Whitman of St. Peters, Mo., Joyce Garner of Carmi, Larry (Valerie) Stowe of Benbrook, Texas, and Sharon (Ron) McRoy of Eldorado. Elfrieda was blessed with nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Carmi at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. Elfrieda's wishes were to be cremated and placed next to her children's father. Graveside services will be held at Mound Grove Cemetery in Kankakee at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 10, 2014.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to The American Heart Association or to Emmanuel United Methodist Memorial Fund.

Stendeback Family Funeral Home in Carmi is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left at stendebackfamilyfuneralhome.com