BENTON – Ellen McGloria Funk Wakefield, 79, formerly of Benton, Illinois, and originally from Beaver Dam, Kentucky, passed away on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Friendship Manor Nursing Home in Nashville, IL.
She was born on January 15, 1946, to the late McGlone and Grace Poole Funk. She married Lloyd Eugene Wakefield on January 28, 1962. She was a member of the Second Baptist Church of Thompsonville, IL, where she loved to sing in the choir and served as secretary and treasurer. In addition to being a wife and mother, Ellen worked at a nursing home in West Frankfort and loved being a personal care giver to elderly people in the Thompsonville area. She was a cook at several area restaurants and at Thompsonville Grade School, which is where she retired. She loved music and singing and had a beautiful voice. She loved sewing, creating and crafting all things, including beautiful teddy bears. She loved gardening, reading and collecting teddy bears of all shapes, sizes and materials – she literally had hundreds. But above all, she loved God and her family. She loved her grandkids so much and always did special things for them.
Aside from her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Wakefield; two sisters: Shirley Wells and Eileen Wilson; three brothers: Billy Funk, Jimmy Funk and Gail Funk; her four children: David (Sheila) Wakefield of Benton, IL, Richard (Christy) Wakefield of Benton, IL, Sandy (Todd) Falzone of Spokane, WA, and Michael (Peggy) Wakefield of Benton, IL; a sister: Amy Sue (Terry) Crane of N. Judson, IN; two brothers: Carroll (Patti) Funk of Indianapolis, IN, and Bobby Funk of Beaver Dam, KY; nine grandchildren: Hope Wakefield, Nathan (Robin) Falzone, Becca Falzone, Tyler Falzone, Eric Wakefield, Rick Wakefield, Jacob Hammonds, Jennifer Hammonds Cozart and Craig Hammonds; and a host of very special nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, at Caldwell Baptist Church, 4630 Deering Road West Frankfort, IL. 62898. The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. with Pastor Richard Wakefield officiating. Place of Internment will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Thompsonville, IL. Arrangements were entrusted to the Morton & Johnson Funeral Home, Benton, IL.
For years, Alzheimer’s Disease has slowly taken Ellen away from her loved ones. In her final years, Ellen traded her love of sitting in a comfy chair, reading for hours on end, for walking for literally hours on end. Other residents and staff at Friendship Manor, as well as family and visitors upon arrival, were urged by Ellen to join her in walking (sometimes hand in hand).
In lieu of flowers, consider donating to, or joining a charity walk fundraising for Alzheimer’s care, support and research such as the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s or any other Alzheimer’s charity you feel is worthy in memory of Ellen and other family and friends affected by this terrible disease.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com.