Obituaries
Obituary for Cecilia Elser
Peoria - Cecilia “Ceil” Elser, 97, passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home surrounded by her loving family. Born Apr. 29, 1917, in Springfield, Ill., to Carl and Elizabeth (Weiderkehr) Metz, her family moved to their hometown in Altus, Ark., when she was two years old. In March of 1940, she came to Peoria to marry her fiancé, Alfred Elser (formerly of Alix, Ark.) who was now working at Caterpillar. He died Mar. 16, 2002. She was also preceded in death by her parents; one son-in-law, Harold Platt of Naples, Fla.; three brothers, Maurice Metz of Kickapoo, Ralph Metz of Altus, Ark., and Robert Metz of Little Rock, Ark.; and two sisters, Rosella Woods of Wichita, Kans. and Lorene Timmerman of Altus, Ark. Surviving are her six children, Nancy (Jim) Zehr of Morton, Carole Platt of Naples, Fla., Sandy (Joe) Staes of Kickapoo, John (Morgan) Elser of Delavan, Dan (Beth) Elser of Peoria, and Mary (Joe) Hofmann of Canton, Ga.; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Mike Metz of Metamora and Ray Metz of Peoria; and two sisters, Cathy Satterfield of Brimfield and Betty Menold of Princeville. She was a lifelong member of St. Philomena Catholic Church in Peoria and its Altar and Rosary Society. In 1964, she and her mother, Elizabeth Metz, joined The Third Order of Lay Carmelites. She was also a founding member of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima in Peoria. A Mass of Christian burial was held at Resurrection Mausoleum Chapel and was celebrated by Father Joseph Dondanville on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, and attended by her family and friends. A reception followed at the K of C Hall on Radnor Road. Entombment was in the mausoleum. Tributes and condolences may be submitted to www.wrightandsalmon.com.
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