Obituary of Rachel LaBelle

Rachel I. (Mintern) LaBelle, 99, of Zion, IL went to be with the Lord August 22, 2016 at Aurora St. Lukes Hospital in Milwaukee, WI. Rachel was born January 18, 1917 in Zion, IL and was a lifelong resident of Zion, IL. She attended the Zion Parochial Schools. She married Stephen W. LaBelle on August 16, 1943 and they enjoyed 59 years together until his death August 29, 2002. She worked for 23 years as secretary at Elmwood School where she touched the lives of so many children and parents. She was a lifelong member of the Christ Community Church (Formerly Christian Catholic Church). She served as a Sunday School teacher, Camp Zion Staff, VBS teacher, youth programs and member of the Zion Passion Play. She loved to spend time knitting but even more she loved spending time with her family especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a member of the Zion Senior Citizens and took many trips with her husband Steve and on her own. She was also a member of the Zion Red Hat Club and enjoyed various activities and went on many outings with them. Rachel is survived by her children, Dick (Fran) LaBelle of Summerfield, FL, Doug (Deb) LaBelle of Kenosha, WI, Lorry (Pat) LaBelle of West Chicago, IL, and David (Jill) LaBelle of Winthrop Harbor, IL. Grandchildren Jennifer, Jeffrey(Neve), Michael (Cindi), LaBelle, Lynn (Brian) Weeks, Krista (Michael DeCarmine) LaBelle, Karin (Daniel Schwalbe) LaBelle, Mark (April) LaBelle, Kimberly (Ben) Ackert, Amy (Paul) Rhody, Janine (Tommy) Brown. Greatgrandchildren Mia LaBelle, Eleanor LaBelle DeCarmine, Benjamin and Tallulah Schwalbe LaBelle, Tristan, Stephen and Kaitlin LaBelle, Miranda (Addison) Boyer, Clara, Nickolas, Rachel, Jacob and Jane Ackert and Gavin Rhody, Cody, Brendan and Ashley LaBelle, Dylan Weeks and great-great grandchild Abriana LaBelle. Step-grandchildren Larry Hallgren, Dawn (Kenny) Swindle, Patti (Rick) Oumiette, Pam (John) Abbio, Kristin (Mark) Heiny, Stacey Wright and step-great grandchildren Tyler and Troy Swindle, Trentin, Brennin and Makara Heiny. Also Carrie (Nathan) Denlinger, Rylan Tyler and Myra Denglinger who called her grandma. Also by many nieces, nephews and cousins including Esther Leech, her first born cousin. She was preceded in death by her husband Stephen LaBelle, her parents Michael J. and Ester M. (Butler) Mintern, brothers Ernie and Harold Mintern, sisters Muriel (Mintern) Maynard and Ethel (Mintern) Blaisdell. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 25, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Christ Community Church, 2500 Dowie Memorial Drive in Zion. The funeral service will be Friday August 26, 2016 at Christ Community Church in Zion with visitation from 10:00 a.m. and the service at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park in Zion. In lieu of flowers, donations to Camp Zion would be appreciated.