Stella Hilda Queen

Stella Hilda Queen, born June 11, 1912, in Danville, Illinois, passed away March 17, 2010 in Grass Valley, California. Stella completed only the sixth grade when she stayed home to raise her two sisters, Catherine and Mary after her step-mom became ill. Stella was married to Ralph Queen in 1929 and she remained in Illinois for 84 years. She was a farmer, homemaker, and she also worked at Diamond Wire in Chicago Heights for 15 years. After her husband retired from General Electric, they moved from Chicago to Danville. In 1996, she moved to Tustin, California to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Frank W. Lucas where she lived for 9 years. After both Mary and Frank passed away, she went to live with her grandson, Frank (Champ) E. Lucas and family in Grass Valley, California in 2007 where she lived her remaining 3 years. She met many friends with her feisty personality and was loved by many for her honesty. Stella really loved Illinois and will rest in peace, with her husband Ralph and other relatives, at the beautiful place she always talked about Sunset Memorial Park. She is preceded in death by her husband- Ralph Queen; father-Thomas Jefferson Gillen; mother-Florence McCord; step-mother-Bertha Gillen; son- Bill Queen; daughter-Mary (Queen) Lucas; son-in-law- Frank W. Lucas; and sister-Katherine (Gillen) Hancock. She is survived by her grandson-Frank (Champ) E. Lucas; granddaughter-in-law- Dianne Lucas; two great-grandsons-James and Michael Lucas; sisters-Helen (Gillen) Pribble (who just turned 99 this month) and Mary (Gillen) Dudley; daughter-in-law- Pat Queen; nephews- Tommy Pribble and Raymond Pribble; grandson-Mark Queen; granddaughter-in-law- Nancy Queen; granddaughters- Marsha Queen and Shelly (Queen) Trevino; great-grandson-Mark Queen Jr.; great granddaughter- Kelly (Queen) ONeill; and great-great-granddaughters- Taylie and Alexis ONeill and Kendall Queen. A Celebration of the life of Stella Hilda Queen will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 25, 2010 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, with Pastor James Blue officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service in Sunset Memorial Park. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at: www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.