Rebecca Brown

Rebecca Lee Brown, aged 85, of Pekin, Illinois, passed away on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Timbercreek Health and Rehab Center in Pekin, Illinois.

She was born on June 7, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois, as the daughter of Richard L. and Lela Hollar Emmons.

She married Joe Venzon in 1959 and had four daughters: Teresa Alvarez of Peoria, Beverly (Amador) Ramirez of Indianapolis, Indiana, Lisa (Tyson) Lockhart of Trivoli, and Kimberly (Ray) Baker of Pekin, Illinois. After their divorce in 1981, she later married Robert Brown, who passed away in 2000.

Her life centered on her children and six grandchildren: Jessica (Mike) Lopez, Daniel Alvarez, Rob Baker, Laura Ruiz-Montejano, Erika Montejano, and Rafael Montejano, actively participating in all aspects of their lives. She adopted and raised two great-grandsons, Joseph (Abby) Alvarez and Isaiah Alvarez. She is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, and a special mention to Ella Hacker who was like a granddaughter to her. Her other family included three sisters—Cora Bent, Judith Knolloff, and Patricia Hopper—and one brother, Richard Emmons. She had one true friend, Sharon Hacker who passed away three years ago on the same date as Becky.

Becky grew up in Bellevue, Illinois, and attended Limestone High School. She worked at several grocery stores, Chad’s Chicken, and Lutheran Social Services. She enjoyed reading, working puzzles, watching crime shows, and flowers and plants. After a ten-year battle with Alzheimer’s that gradually took her memory, she lived at Timbercreek Nursing Home for 16 months. Staff members became like family and loved her dearly.

Cremation rites have been accorded. A celebration of her life will be held at Hanna City Sportsmen's Club on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 1 pm until 5 pm. Memorials can be donated to Veterans Helping Veterans in Peoria. Affordable Funeral & Cremation Services, Peoria has been entrusted with arrangements.