Obituary of Norma Jean Welch

Norma J. Welch, 85, of Chillicothe passed away on January Monday, Jan. 29, 2018 at her home. She was born on May 16, 1932 in Peoria to Clarence and Bonnie (Worlow) Vance. She married Verne P. Cutler on Apr. 1, 1949 in Peoria. He preceded her in death on Sept. 26, 1967. She then married Arthur D. Welch on August 22, 1970. He preceded her in death on August 20, 1993. Surviving are her children: Sherry J. (Mark) Aaron of Olney, Gary V. (Cami) Cutler of Urbana, Verne (Valerie) Cutler II of Beach Park; Susan (Howard) Smith, David Welch, Phyllis Sidener; and Michael (Debbie) Welch; 18 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; 6 great great grandchildren; 4 sisters: Bonny (Tom) Parrott of East Peoria, Helen Choate of East Peoria, Margaret (Doug) Marsh of Pekin and Jill Allen of Peoria; and a brother, Ira Vern Vance of East Peoria. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, 4 brothers: James, Clarence, Jr. and Phillip Vance, a sister Carol Flemming, a daughter Mary Beth Cutler and 6 grandchildren. Norma was a cook at Illinois Central College for more than 30 years. She loved to cook for her family and friends. She enjoyed baking wedding and birthday cakes. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 10:00 am at St. Edward Catholic Church in Chillicothe. Msgr. Michael Bliss will officiate. Visitation will be held on Friday evening from 5-7:00 pm followed by a Rosary at Weber-Hurd Funeral Home in Chillicothe. Burial will be held in Parkview Cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church or to the American Heart Association. Norma's online memorial website may be viewed at www.weberhurdfuneralhome.com