Rose C. Sanders

Rose C. Sanders died on April 28, 2024 in O’Fallon, Illinois after a long illness. Rose was born Dec. 24, 1939 in Portland, Oregon, later moving to Fonda, Iowa. She was preceded in death by an infant son, Jeffrey Sanders, a daughter, Patricia Howard, sisters Mary Ann Schadel and Patricia Schulte, brother Ferdinand Becker and her parents, Alois and Mary Becker. She is survived by her husband, Larry Sanders, whom she married on Oct 1, 1960 in Fonda, Iowa, and children Norman Sanders (wife Chris) of Millstadt, Ill., John Sanders (wife Lisa) of Raymore, Mo., Paul Sanders (wife Julie) of Ballwin, Mo., and son-in-law Chuck Howard of Dupo, Ill. Other survivors include 10 grandchildren - Kyle Sanders (wife Lauren), Ashley Lifritz (husband Ben), Danielle Hewitt (husband Chris), Nicole Howard, Brittany Ramirez (husband Jason), Allen Sanders, Johnny Sanders and Abigail Sanders, Connor Sanders and Allison Sanders, along with eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Music was always a focal point of Rose’s life. She was an accomplished piano player and organist who later studied music at Central Missouri University, where she met her husband. She later was the organist at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo, Ill., for 50 years, also serving as music director. Rose also was involved in various church and school clubs and organizations, including the PTA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Rose was the glue that held her family together and for years helped preserve her family history by saving and labeling photos, genealogy documents, family trips and other artifacts so they could be passed down to the next generations. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Family Hospice in Belleville, Ill., and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo, Ill. Visitation: Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 5 at Leesman Funeral Home, 326 S. Main St. in Dupo, Ill., and 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday, May 6 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo, Ill. Funeral service: A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 6 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 130 S. Third St., in Dupo, Ill., with Rev. Paul Wienhoff officiating. Burial will be immediately following at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Waterloo, Ill. Special thanks to the caregivers at Keystone Place at Richland Creek and Family Hospice. Arrangements were handled by Leesman Funeral Home.

Rose C. Sanders

December 24, 1939 - April 28, 2024