Thelma Austin

WOODRIDGE—Thelma Austin, 80, of Woodridge, IL, passed away Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017 at Bria of Westmont in Westmont, IL. She was the wife of Wayne H. Austin, formerly of Wilmington.
Thelma was born Jan. 2, 1937 in Pineville, KY, the daughter of Russaw and Mossie Long. She was the 11th of 12 children and the last to survive. When her mother passed away she lived for a while in a children’s home in Lexington, KY. She was later reunited with her family in Bloomington, IL
During her lifetime, Thelma held many different jobs, but the one that was most significant was as a cashier in the A&P Store in Bloomington, IL, because it was there that she met a young college student who would later become her husband. She and Wayne H. Austin, of Wilmington, were married on June 9, 1957, at the EUB Church in Symerton.
Together they had four children: Debra Waters, of Florida; Gary Austin, of Woodridge, IL; Deanna (Gary Atkinson, of Terre Haute, IN and the late Glenn Austin. She was the cherished grandmother of Christina (Peter) Pucillo, Elizabeth (Danny) Aoun, Felicia (Dave) Chambers, Bradley (Mackenzie) Austin, Robert Atkinson and Jonathan (Jen) Waters. She was also the great-grandmother of six.
Thelma loved participating in Eastern Star where she served in many different offices. One of her greatest joys was crocheting afghans and giving them away to family members and close friends.
Funeral services will be held Oct. 3, 2017 at the Modell Funeral Home in Darien, IL with the Reverend Harriette Cross officiating. Burial will be in Naperville Cemetery in Naperville, IL.