Cindy Whitesell Obituary

Name: Service for Cindy Whitesell
Start: 2023-11-07T10:00:00.000Z
Location: Holy Cross Catholic Church

CHAMPAIGN - After a series of recent health battles, Cindy Whitesell passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 31, 2023, and is an example of a life well lived.

She was born Jan. 27, 1945, at home in Schram City, Ill. As a lively, beautiful girl, she was studious and accomplished at twirling a baton. By the time she was 13, with her father's assistance, she twirled a fire baton in evening shows. She met the love of her life at age 18 at Hillsboro High School. They married and moved to Champaign when she was 19 where she had her fist child at age 20. She was raised Baptist and attended RCIA to become Catholic in the 1960s.

For over 30 years, she did bookkeeping and payroll for the family business, Skip's Shell/Skip's Sunoco/Lincolnshire Marathon. During these years, she raised four children and was active at Holy Cross Parish and School. She was a certified scuba diver and loved to travel. With her husband, she traveled to Rome, Portugal, Spain, Hawaii and other countless destinations all over the Caribbean, Mexico and Central and South America, the Canary Islands and even toured the Kasbah with armed guards.

After her husband passed away in 2009, she continued to travel with friends and participated in Holy Cross's Berevement Group. She loved to read and visit with family and friends. She always had an encouraging word and was an unabashed optimist to the very end. Her entire adult life, she was always welcoming and hospitable to any guests.

She is survived by four children, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: son Kent Whitesell and wife Laura Hutchcraft and their children, Samuel and Madeline; son Willis John "Whitty" Whitesell and wife Jennifer and their children, Ethan (children Ty, Lilah, Theo and Gabriel), Elaina, Hannibal, Maryam and Fulton; son Carlin Whitesell and wife Joan and their children, Jacob and Catherine; and daughter Christy (Whitesell) Forehand and husband Eduard and their children, Conrad and LuCinda. She was preceded in death by her parents, Glen Christy and Hadie (Brummit) Christy; two brothers, Ronald and Kenneth Christy; and her husband, Willis "Skip" Whitesell.

There will be a funeral Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Champaign on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, at 10 a.m.

Condolences may be offered at morganmemorialhome.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News-Gazette on Nov. 5, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Cindy Whitesell

5 Entries

marvin traylor

October 30, 2024

she was my girlfriend in 7th grade, but soon lost her to older, cooler guys. she´ll alwat be 13 to me.

Marvin

Lila Crigler Chaplin

November 11, 2023

So sorry for your loss. She was a friend at HHS. Prayers for you all.

Don Drabant

November 9, 2023

I recently found out from my brother Tom Drabant about Cindy´s passing. First off, I wanted to express my sincere condolences to the family and let them know that they are in my thoughts and prayers. Unfortunately I had lost touch with Cindy some years ago but she and Skip were a very important and influential part of my life when I was at U of I and for some years after I left Champaign. Their kindness and support for me as well as their generosity to me is a wonderful memory. I worked at Skip´s Shell throughout college and never would have made it through college without their financial and moral support. I have great memories about them grilling fabulous steaks at their house on weekends and hanging out at the pool. I´ll also always remember the garlic laden dip that they made and Skip saying "it hurts your breath ". Cindy was a wonderful person who was kind and generous and may she rest in peace. God bless you all.

Don Drabant

Linda Gage

November 6, 2023

I am so sad that my friend of so many years has passed. I will always remember Cindy & Skip for all the many, many times we spent together. Our kids were friends of Kent & Whitty & they went to school together. In the 90´s we moved to Arizona and Cindy came over to pick up some things before we left. She told me on the way over the song "Dust in the Wind" played & that became our goodbye song along with a few tears. My prayers go out to her large expanded family. We can only know, Skip must have been there to welcome her "Home". To her forever home. All my Love, Linda (Pfeifer) Gage

The Hurt Family

November 6, 2023

Our love and wishes for peace to Kent, Whitty, and Christy and all of her beloved grandchildren-- We'll always remember Cindy's graciousness and elegance and will miss her. She threw a lot of excellent pool parties at the Prospect Ave. house and always made us feel welcome and well fed as our own family expanded. The Hurt Family.

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