Della Bledsoe

Della Jean Bledsoe, 75, of Zion, IL, passed away on Wednesday, January 13, 201 0, at Rolling Hills Manor in Zion. Della was born April 2, 1934, to Kinnie and Stella (nee Castleberry) Hale, in Ryans Well, MS. She married Lee Bledsoe on March 1, 1977, in Waukegan, IL. Della owned and operated Al's Tap in Zion with her husband for 32 years. She was a 21 year member of both the Zion Women of the Moose #667 and the Homer Dahringer Post 281Ladies Auxillary. Della was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family, doll collecting, feeding birds and squirrels, and especially talking to customers and spoiling their children while working with her husband in their business. Survivors include her husband of 33 years, Lee Bledsoe; children, Joseph (Judy ) Starling of Pleasant Prairie, WI, June (Randy) Mink of Winthrop Harbor, IL, Diana (Barry) Ford of Loganville, GA, Glenda Waneck of Spring, TX, and Robert (Tara) Swidersky of Houston, TX; grandchildren, John Cody, Aaron and Adam Kreul, Lesley Mink, Darren and Christopher Ford, Amber (nee Ford) Porter, Jessica and Michael Waneck, Randy Woodard, and Kaitlyn Swidersky; 5 great-grandchildren, brother, Charles (Judy) Hale of Overland Park, KS; sisters, Dovie Wayne Kitchens of Marietta, MS, and Mitzi (Gary) Woodrow of Mantachie, MS; brothers-in-law, Bill Bledsoe of Tulsa, OK, and Ernie (Ginny) Bledsoe of Claremore, OK; sister-in-law, Shirley Potts of Tahlequah, OK, numerous nieces nephews, cousins, and many friends. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Pamela Jean Starling; brothers, Roy, J.C., Billy, Jerry, Harold and Lyvonn Hale; sister, Maydell Crowley; and her mother and father. Visitation will be Friday, January 15, 2010, from 5:00-8:00 p.m at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL Funeral services will be held later in Mantachie, MS, with a burial at Kirkville Cemetery, Marietta, MS. Memorial donations are suggested to Mooseheart City and School, Mooseheart, IL 60539