Anna Florence Ekstam Obituary (1922 - 2013)

Anna Florence Ekstam, 91, of Bloomington, died at 5:21 p.m. Thursday, September 12, 2013 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria.Her funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at St. Patricks Catholic Church, 1209 W. Locust St., Bloomington, with Rev. Deo Gratias Kiwanuka officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Monday, September 16, 2013 at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington, where the rosary will be recited at 6:45 p.m.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Legion Post 635, Normal (www.post635.com), "Historic" St. Patricks Catholic Church, Bloomington or VFW Post 454, Bloomington.Florencewas born June 7, 1922 in Bloomington, the daughter of Frank X. and Rose Shipley Moews. She married Carl Harry Ekstam on January 17, 1942 in Bloomington. He preceded her in death on January 15, 2013.Surviving are two sons, Donald "Gene" (Kathy) Ekstam and Francis "Butch" (Sherry) Ekstam both of Bloomington; five grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and thirteen great-great-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by four brothers; one son, Carl Francis Ekstam; and a grandson, Joseph M. Ekstam.Florence attended St. Marys Grade School and graduated from Bloomington High School. She worked at Country Companies and Illinois State University and later was a longtime volunteer at Heritage Manor in Bloomington. Florence was a member of St. Patricks Catholic Church as well as its Altar and Rosary Society, the VFW Post 454 Ladies Auxiliary and Korny Kampers.Florences family will remember her for her gentle, kind and gracious ways. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother and will be dearly missed.