Alice Pontarelli

SHERMAN, IL - Alice Pontarelli, 89, of Sherman and formerly of Rochester, Ill., passed away at Villa Health Care East on Tuesday, March 24, 2015.

Alice was born to Walter and Viola (Dost) Wordelman, one of three children, on March 7, 1926, in Blue Island, Ill.

Her parents, her husband, Edward, and a sister, Ruth Hill, preceded her in death.

She is survived by a brother, George Wordelman of Shorewood, Ill.; and two daughters, Terry Miller (Mike, deceased) of Indianapolis, Ind., and Cherie Doherty (Tom) of Springfield. There are six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Alice graduated from Blue Island High School in Blue Island, Ill., in 1944. She met her husband, Edward Pontarelli, at the Trianon Ballroom in Chicago in 1948. The two were married on Sept. 3, 1949, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Chicago, Ill.

Prior to becoming a mother and homemaker Alice was employed with the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago. Alice was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She was also a very talented seamstress and enjoyed making clothing and home furnishings using patterns she created.

She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sherman, Ill. Prior to joining Good Shepherd in Sherman, she and her husband, Ed, volunteered with ministering to homebound church members within the Lutheran church.

Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, March 28 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sherman, Ill. The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. at the church with a luncheon to follow. A committal service will be held at Mottarville Cemetery in Rochester, Ill., after the luncheon.

Memorial gifts may be made to the following organizations: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sherman, Ill., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Rochester, Ill., or The American Cancer Society .

Wilson Park Funeral Home in Rochester is in charge of arrangements.