Bernadine O'Neill

Bernadine Marcella Sloan O’Neill, 86, of Champaign passed away at 2:05 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, at St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield.

She was born Jan. 17, 1923, in Morrisonville, the daughter of George Joseph and Mary Nolan Sloan. She married Leo O’Neill on July 26, 1967, in Peoria. He preceded her in death on March 2, 1969.

She was a member of Holy Cross Church in Champaign.

Bernadine graduated from Morrisonville High in 1941 as valedictorian of her class and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1945. For many years Bernadine worked in Chicago as a copywriter for large department stores, including Marshall Fields and Niebolts. In later years, she designed and made scarves and skirts and traveled several states selling her merchandise. Later she established the Sloan O’Neill Boutique in Champaign selling high fashion apparel.

Surviving are her stepchildren, Rosie O’Neill, Alice Lambe and Terry O’Neill of Champaign; brothers, William Sloan of Hillsboro, John Sloan of Taylorville and James Sloan of Danville; sisters Mary Cecilia Pino of Elliott City, Md., Rita Sloan of Morrisonville, Rose Ann Sloan of Woodbourne, N.Y., and Martha Beeler of Raymond; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be held Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. at St. Maurice Catholic Church in Morrisonville with Father Jerry Bunse officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at the church. Burial will follow in St. Maurice Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the St. Maurice Catholic Church or Morrisonville Community Ambulance.

Perfetti Funeral Home in Morrisonville is in charge of arrangements.