Alberta Bigler

HERRIN - Alberta Bigler, 87, passed away at 5 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, in Shawnee Christian Nursing Center in Herrin.

She was born Dec. 16, 1925, to Mamie (Butler) and Albert Gale in Gorham, along with her twin brother, Oakley.

After working on the naval base in San Leandro, Calif., she returned to Carbondale, where she met and married Raymond Paul Bigler on Feb. 14, 1947. He preceded her in death July 22, 1985.

Alberta and Raymond owned and operated a farm east of Carbondale for their entire married life. She was a longtime member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Carbondale, and, since 1985, she was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Herrin.

Survivors include seven children, Rebecca (John) Bostian of Herrin, Danny (Ellie) of Carterville, Rhonda Bigler of Dayton, Tenn., Vera (Brad) Slankard of Herrin, Virginia Lewis of Bloomington and her fiancé, Erv, of Makanda, Doug (Alice) Bigler of Marion and Ruth (Jeff) Dunn of Vienna.

Also surviving are 20 grandchildren, Jaime Rawlinson, Julie Johnson, Leann and Lori Jackson, Diane Phillips, James Jackson, Tammy Daech, Danny Bigler, Shannon Bigler, David Miller, Chris Miller, Kimberly Staley, Gregory Slankard, Matthew McGuire, Ryan Bigler, Dustin Bigler, Diana Bigler, Kelly Dunn, Kyle Dunn and Keith Dunn; 20 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; twin brother, Oakley Gale of Ava; sisters, Mary Worthen of Metropolis and Geraldine Dillow of Murphysboro; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers, Grover Gale of Sacramento and Glen Gale of Vergennes; and two sisters, Emma Vasquez of Lenzburg and Theda Graff of Murphysboro.

Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Herrin with Monsignor Ken Schaefer officiating. Burial will follow in Egyptian Memorial Gardens in Energy. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin and 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. A rosary will be recited at 5 p.m. today at the funeral home.

For those who prefer, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Education Foundation or Hospice of Southern Illinois. Envelopes will be available and accepted at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home, 201 S. 13th St. Herrin, IL 62948.

For more information or to sign the memorial guest register, visit www.hughesfuneralhomes.com.