Harriet V. Chamberlin

Harriet V. Chamberlin, 99, of Danville, passed this life on July 29, 2018. She was born April 15, 1919 in Olney, Illinois; the fifth child, and only daughter of Dennis and Myrtle Hocking, of Albion, Illinois. She was preceded in 1977 by her husband, Estus (Joe) W. Chamberlin, whom she had married in 1942. She is survived by their three children and their families: Judith (Terry) Henderson of Naperville; their daughters, Holly (Mike) Hill and Melanie (Sean) Doherty; Thomas Chamberlin of Ogden, Utah; and Denise (Dr. Charles) Ligler of Covington, Indiana; their daughters, Dr. Sarah (Travis) Curry, Dr. Lindsay (Dr. Joshua Winters) Ligler, and Kathleen Ligler. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren; Julia Hill, Sarah Hill, Sonia Doherty and Shalyn Doherty. She was a graduate of the University of Illinois, in 1940, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She accumulated twenty-five years of high school teaching, in three different High Schools, with the last seventeen years at Danville High School where she taught Home Economics, Sewing, and Tailoring. Her first teaching position in Effingham required permission from her principal to allow marriage to her future husband. Female teachers up to that point were preferred to be single. She was also a lifelong member of the American Association of University Woman (AAUW). Harriet and Joe belonged to a bowling league for many years and became accomplished at the sport. In Harriet's later years, after suffering a torn rotator cuff, she taught herself to bowl with the opposite hand. She was also quite accomplished with a BB gun and amazed her grandchildren many times with her aim on squirrels at the bird feeder! Having grown up on a farm, she introduced her children to a love for animals and of the great outdoors, which sustained and enriched them throughout their lives. Many happy memories revolved around bringing kittens home from the farm. One in particular, Pixie, was brought back from the edge by mom's loving care and compassion and grew into a beautiful animal. Harriet personally enjoyed most music and encouraged her children to take up instrumental music. She learned to play the piano while a student growing up on the farm, and retained her early training well into her retirement. On rare occasion, she could also tap dance on her kitchen linoleum, to the amazement of her young family. The family would like to thank the staff at Hawthorne Inn for the wonderful care she was given during the past year and a half. Their patience and caring attitude with her dementia was illustrated on a daily basis. A Celebration of Harriet's life will be held 2:00pm on Sunday, August 5, 2018 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 3940 N. Vermilion, Danville. Visitation will be from 1:00-2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Pastor Scott McCurdy, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, and the church in which her family was raised, is officiating the service. She will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to CARA or the Humane Society of Danville. Please join the family in sharing memories, photos and videos on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Visitation Aug 5, 2018 Sunday, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center 3940 N Vermilion st Danville, Il 61834 Celebration of Life Aug 5, 2018 Sunday, 2:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center 3940 N Vermilion st Danville, Il 61834 Final Resting Place Sunset Memorial Park 3901 N. Vermilion Street Danville, IL 61834