MENDOTA - Norma Lee Muhlach, 86, of Mendota passed away peacefully on Sept. 18, 2017 in Rockford, surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 22 at the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota with Deacon Vincent Slomian officiating. Burial will be at Restland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30-11 a.m. on Sept. 22 at the funeral home.

Norma Lee was born Oct. 14, 1930 in Sublette to Claude and Euna (Thompson) Hotchkiss. She married Leo Albert Muhlach on Dec. 9, 1959 in Ashton. He preceded her in death in 2011.

Survivors include one son, William Leo (Twila) Muhlach of Murphysboro; two daughters, Susan Kay (Mark) Widloski of Maryville, Tenn. and Lisa Ann McDonnell (Pat Bachrodt) of Belvidere; seven grandchildren, Michelle (Brian) Hoying of Herzogenaurach, Del.; Tara (Matthew) Sellers of Arlington Heights; Brandon (Aubrey) Muhlach of Louisville, Colo.; John Widloski of Berkeley, Calif.; Bryant (fiancée Brittany) McDonnell of Newport, Ky.; Katie Widloski of New York, N.Y. and Evan Widloski of Maryville, Tenn.; four great- grandchildren, Benjamin and Elliot Hoying and Noelle and Holden Sellers; one sister, Wanda Sue Weishaar of Ashton; and one brother, Ronald George (Delores) Hotchkiss of Rockford.

She was preceded in death by her husband.

Norma Lee grew up in Ashton and graduated from Ashton High School where she later worked as a secretary. She met her husband and lifelong love, Leo Muhlach, when he took her senior high school picture. For decades they worked side by side to establish the well-known Leo’s Studio in Mendota. Norma Lee’s real education, however, was largely self-applied. A self-taught naturalist and genealogist, she was a resource to generations of family researchers who knew they could call on her for her help (delivered with a patent smile and laugh). It was this commitment to research and classification that she applied to her other great loves as well - art and music. A true Renaissance woman, she refurbished antiques, enjoyed playing the piano and was an avid bird watcher. Within her community, she worked with Leo to create and curate The Muhlach Photography Collection at the Carnegie Museum in Mendota. She was a thoughtful, generous and truly happy person who was always quick with a smile, laugh and friendly word. She created wonderful memories (especially at Christmas) for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who survive her.

Memorials may be directed to Hume-Carnegie Museum in Mendota or Heartland Hospice in Rockford.