Opal Van Buren

Opal Viola Marie Van Buren, 72, of Danville, passed away at 9:21 a.m. Wednesday, June 15, 2005 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Opal was born on September 22, 1932 in Newton, Illinois, the daughter of John A. and Dorothy I. (Delashmitt) Fillinger. She married Charles Van Buren on September 12, 1949 in Paris, Illinois. He survives. She is survived by her 3 sons- Stephen (Annette) Van Buren of Holt, Michigan, Randell (Lolita) Van Buren of Milton, Florida, and Gregory (Louise) Van Buren of Danville; 3 daughters- Cathy Van Buren of Danville, Teresa Bryant of West Lebanon, Indiana, and Tammy (Shane) Hopper of Danville; 3 brothers- Chester (Delores) Fillinger of Paxton, Illinois, James (Shirley) Fillinger of Missouri, and John Fillinger of Newman, Illinois; 2 sisters- Sharon Fillinger of Paris, Illinois and Margaret (Terry) Newman of Paris, Illinois; 13 grandchildren- Craig Van Buren, Mark Van Buren, Erika (Brandon) Ruiz, Charlie Van Buren, Amber (Loren) Winters, Amy Van Buren, Allan (Amanda) Shepherd, April White, Jared Tarquini, Joshua Hopper, Christa Hopper, John Bryant Jr., and Brandy Whetstone; 13 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law- Alma Parker of Crown Point, Indiana and Carolyn Holler of Anderson, Indiana; 4 very special friends- Sylvia Chezem of Danville, Pat Keller of Danville, May Chapman of Danville, and Pauline Ike of Oliver, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, 1 sister- Mabel Pinnell, 1 son-in-law- John Bryant, and 2 brothers-in-law- Charles Junior Pinnell and Stuart Parker. Opal loved being around children. She spent more than 25 years as a babysitter in her own home. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Danville. She loved cooking, playing cards, bowling, and talking with her friends and family on the phone. She loved being around her family the most.