Emily M. Bitner, 81, of Trivoli, passed away at 1:05 p.m. on Friday, April 23, 2010, at Red Oak Estates in Canton.
Emily was born in Peoria on March 8, 1929, a daughter of Carl E. and Ruby Irene (Watkins) Wagner. She married E. Duane Bitner on March 26, 1948 in East Peoria. He preceded her in death on November 23, 2009 in Farmington. She was also preceded in death by her parents; brother, Frank Wagner; and stepmother, Edna Wagner.
She is survived by her daughter, Valerie (William) Cole of Peoria; sons, Michael Bitner of Canton and Joseph “JC” (Susan) Bitner of Mexico, MO; eight grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and step-sisters, Connie (Jed) Bryon of Harpswell, ME, Leanne (Mike) Emery of Indianapolis, IN and Marilyn (Dennis) Damery of Metamora.
Emily was a homemaker and formerly attended Texas United Methodist Church in Trivoli. She enjoyed reading, playing the organ, vacationing in Hawaii, eating at the Maid-Rite Diner and collecting a little bit of everything. She also loved listening to music from the ‘40s and ‘50s, especially Liberace, Dean Martin and Wayne Newton.
She liked spending quiet-time at home, reading a book, going shopping or out to eat. Emily will be remembered as a soft-spoken and kind-hearted woman, with an amazing inner-strength to endure life. She loved her children very much.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 26, 2010, at Clary Funeral Home, 428 West McClure Avenue, in Peoria, with Pastor Ray Harrison officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Interment will be in Texas United Methodist Church Cemetery in Trivoli.
Memorial contributions may be made in Emily’s memory to the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery Program in Peoria.
