Lilia Estipona Peters

Lilia Estipona Peters, 79, of Champaign passed away at 6:55 a.m. Saturday, Dec 9, 2017 after a long illness. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at St. Patrick's Church, 708 W. Main St. Urbana, IL 61801, with Rev. Fr. Luke Spannagel officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 from 4 to 7 p.m., at Sunset Funeral Home, 710 N. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820. A Prayer Vigil held immediately after. A private family burial will follow later. Ms. Peters was born Sept 6, 1938 in a barrio near Gubat Sorsogon, Philippines, the eldest daughter of Joaquin and Alejandra Estipona. Her sister, Liceria Estipona preceded her in death on Dec 9, 2006. Her brother, Lino Estipona, lives in Gubat Sorsogon, Philippines. She married Ronald Jay Peters, surviving, on Sept 24, 1966. The two met briefly during his Peace Corps tour in her country and reunited after she came to the United States to pursue a career in nursing with the Exchange Nursing Program. They started their family in Chicago, IL and had a daughter, Emily Nena of Glen Ridge, NJ. They moved to Lansing, MI and had a son, Franklin Quin of Champaign, IL. Her three grandchildren, Elijah, Alexandra, and Emmet Bushue, were her pride and joy. They moved to Urbana, IL in 1976 where she worked for Burnham City Hospital and McKinley Student Health Center. She also completed her master's degree in Health Education at the University of Illinois. After retiring from McKinley in 1994, she joined the C-U Public Health District as County Tuberculosis Coordinator who worked tirelessly monitoring and supporting TB patients. She stayed active and sharp by committing her time and energy to helping members of her professional, cultural, and religious communities. She sat on the boards of the Champaign County Healthcare Consumers and A Woman's Fund. She served as president of Illinois Nurses Association Chapter 15. She was a devoted and active member of St. Patrick's Parish in Urbana. She also started a business to connect Filipino nurses to local hospitals and provided ongoing support to help them adjust and thrive. While short in stature, she was a giant in her community. She was a reliable, ever-present source of information, strength, and understanding. She will be missed by her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Lilia's name to Presence Covenant Medical Center. Please join her family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on her tribute wall at sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Visitation Dec 12, 2017 Tuesday, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center Champaign-Urbana Chapel 710 N. Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 Service Dec 13, 2017 Wednesday, 10:00 AM St. Patrick's Catholic Church 708 W Main Street Urbana, Illinois 61801 Final Resting Place St. Mary's Cemetery 42-4 St. Mary's Road Champaign, IL 61820