MENDOTA - Dorothy H. Elston, 95, of Mendota passed away Dec. 10, 2020 at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Visitation will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13 at the Wasmer Funeral Home, Mendota. Masks are required, social distancing observed, and numbers monitored. A private family Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, Dec. 14 with a public graveside service following at 11 a.m. Rev. Peter Pilon will officiate. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren. Wasmer Funeral Home is privileged to assist the family.

Dorothy was born May 17, 1925 in Mendota to Nicholas and Mabel (Kolanczik) Spanier. She married Gerald Elston on Oct. 23, 1945 at Holy Cross Church with Father Leo J. Wissing officiating. He preceded her in death in 1998.

Survivors include her children, John (Christine Brown) Elston, Mary (Alan) Russell, Anne (Phillip) Caylor and Neil (Sylvia) Elston, all of Mendota; a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth (Randy) Tucker of Michigan; her grandchildren, Deborah (Gregory) Shierling, Laura (Tony) Stinebaker, Matthew (Laura) Russell, Christopher (Kathy) Elston, Andrew (Jenni) Elston, Phillip (Emily) Elston, Aaron (Heather) Elston, Amanda (Joseph) Mirus, Jeremy (Bethany) Elston, Christie (Ryan) Devine, Todd (Rachel) Henry, and Tanya Limon; 30 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband and a son, Paul, both in 1998; one daughter, Ruth in 2017; one son, Mark in 2020; two daughters-in-law, Sarah Elston and Christine Elston; and her parents.

Dorothy graduated from Holy Cross Grade School in 1939 and from Sacred Heart Academy in Springfield in 1943. She was a lifelong member of Holy Cross Church where she sang in the choir for many years and also substituted as organist. She was a lector and served the parish in many other ways. She sang and played for funerals both at church and at the Schwarz Funeral Home. She was employed part-time as bookkeeper for the former Mendota Central Oil Co. Dorothy was a member of St. Mary’s Altar Society, Friends of Graves Hume Public Library, Mendota Community Hospital Auxiliary, and Sauk Valley Humane Society. Her favorite things were music, gardening, reading mystery books, caring for various pets, and sending greeting cards to all her family and friends. As a lifelong Cubs fan, she was overjoyed when they won the World Series. Dorothy especially cherished the weekly “Coffee Klatches” with her children, grandchildren and friends.

Memorials may be directed to Holy Cross School or Mendota Area Senior Services.

Condolences may be left at wasmerfuneralhome.com.