MENDOTA - Irma Lu Madden, 97, of Mendota died July 13, 2018 at OSF St. Paul Medical Center, Mendota.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 23 at First United Methodist Church, Mendota with Rev. Mary Bohall officiating. Burial will take place at Restland Cemetery, Mendota. There will be no visitation. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is handling the arrangements.

Irma Lu was born May 25, 1921 in Rochelle to August M. and Carrie (Sechler) Zimmerman. She married Arthur D. Madden on Oct. 20, 1951 at the Methodist Church in Rochelle and they enjoyed 46 wonderful years together. He preceded her in death on April 11, 1997.

Survivors include one son, William Madden of Mendota; one daughter, Nancy (Tim) Dessing of Mendota; two grandchildren, Ryan (Renie) Dessing and Ashley (Andy) Osikowicz; two great-grandchildren, Maggie Dessing and Reagan Osikowicz; stepdaughter, Sharon Decker of Tennessee; two step grandchildren, Rich (Kim) Decker and Susan (Rich) Cilento; four step great-grandchildren, Jennifer and Michelle Decker, Marissa Tanner and Sami Cilento; one brother, William (Carol) Zimmerman of Rochelle; and her Bichon dog, Chloe.

She was preceded in death by her husband and one sister, Mary June Anderson.

Irma Lu graduated from Rochelle High School in 1939 and was the class valedictorian. She attended Northern Illinois College. She was employed as a private secretary to the division manager of Del Monte Corporation in Rochelle for 13 years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Mendota Hospital Auxiliary and Mendota Elks Lodge 1212. She loved and participated in many sports. She especially enjoyed playing tennis and was a member of the Northern Illinois tennis team and continued to play until the age of 75. She was a loyal and devoted fan of the Chicago Cubs, Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks and also followed the tennis career of Roger Federer. She was devoted to her family, enjoyed corresponding with dear friends, listening to CDs of Methodist Church services of Pastors Michael Morrell and Kent Svendsen. She liked riding her stationary bike, reading to her grandchildren, working on crossword puzzles and watching sporting events on TV. She enjoyed being a part of her son’s restoration of vintage cars, she liked to go shopping with her daughter and granddaughter and spending time with her loyal dog, Chloe.

Memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church.