Mrs. Abernathy was the owner/operator of Paris Cleaners before her retirement. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Freeburg, IL, and a former member of St. Henry’s Mothers’ Club and the Althoff Mothers’ Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Vern C. Abernathy, whom she married December 29, 1954, and who died on June 15, 2006; a daughter, Louise Ann “LuAnn” Abernathy; a son, Steve Abernathy; her parents, Leo and Minnie, nee Nenninger, Holzum; a son-in-law, Mike Bowles; three grandsons; two great-granddaughters; two brothers; and four sisters.
Surviving are eight children, Vicki Howard of Belleville, IL, Stan (Kara) Abernathy of Freeburg, IL, Cathy (Jim) Gore of Fairview Heights, IL, Patty Bowles (Greg Olson) of White Bear Lake, MN, Laurie (Mark) Ahrens of Des Pere, MO, Tim (Claudia Cortez) Abernathy of Belleville, IL, Jim (Ingrid) Abernathy of Dunedin, FL, and David Abernathy of Freeburg, IL; 27 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; a sister, Sr. Leah Holzum; two sisters-in-law, Dorris Guarino and Martha Holzum; and nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, https://nationalpcf.org/jacksonstrong/. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 30, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Freeburg, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 1, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Freeburg, IL, with Fr. Von Deeke officiating.
Burial will be at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.