Estella M. Groen

Estella M. Groen, 100 years of age, passed away at the Grand Victorian Senior Community in Pekin at 3:44 pm on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Estella was born to Peter and Josephine (Isoardi) Bodi in Kingston Mines, IL on September 8, 1909. She moved to Pekin at the age of 5. She married Bernard W. Groen in Pekin on May 11, 1935. He passed away on January 12, 1982. Also preceding her in death were her parents and six sisters: Katie Yavorshak, Margaret Zimmerman, Madeline Riviere, Josephine Kyle, Minnie Hayes and Lucille Wiley. Surviving are: two daughters, Marcia Jansen of Pekin and Bernadine Jones of Broken Arrow, OK; five grandchildren, Jeff (Teri) Fabry Honolulu, Hawaii, Lori (Andrew) Preston of Portland, OR, Lynn (Brad) Curless of Pekin, Kristine Jones of Houston, TX and Leanne Jones of Katy, TX; five great grandchildren, Jackie (Corey) Edmonds of Marlborough, MA, Margaret Preston and Helen Preston of Portland, OR, Ashlyn Jones of Katy, TX and Elizabeth Curless of Pekin. Estella was associated with Sommer Brothers Seed Company for fifty years serving as Secretary Treasurer and Office Manager retiring in 1978. She enjoyed traveling and did so extensively in the U.S. and many foreign countries. Estella was a life member of the Altrusa Club, Pekin Hospital League and Republican Women of Pekin. She was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, served on the church council and was a long time Sunday School Teacher.