Tressa Lovell "Vel" Cordani Obituary (1923 - 2011)

Tressa Lovell "Vel" Cordani, 87, of Witt died Thursday, October 6, 2011 in Nokomis Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. She was born December 7, 1923 at home in Taylor Springs, IL, the daughter of Melvin Walter Mabel Irene Currie Moreland. She was raised in Taylor Springs and Hillsboro area. She married Warren L. Dean in April 1941 in St. Louis, MO. He died in April 1947. She later married Melvert R. Cordani on September 4, 1948 in the Lutheran Parsonage in Staunton. After their marriage, they operated Mel's Bakery in Witt nearly 38 years until their retirement December 24, 1985. They worked long hours and the bakery was famous for its bakery products, especially the wedding cakes which were delivered throughout the state of Illinois. The bakery became the second home for not only their children, but many children in Witt who worked there. Vel was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Nokomis. She is survived by her husband Mel Cordani, Witt, IL; her children: Thomas K. Dean wife Mayola, Pana, IL, Beverley Sue Virden, Springfield. Toni Leigh husband Rodger, Witt, IL; Melvert C. Cordani wife Sharon, Litchfield, IL; Eileen "WeeGee" Kinkelaar husband Dan, Witt, IL, and Albert Joseph Cordani wife Alexis, Lake St. Louis, MO; Max Montgomery wife Lori, Colmesneil, TX and Emily Battin, Raymond, IL; 22 grandchildren: Todd Dean wife Lora, Eric Dean wife Liz, Jim May wife Christine, Stephanie May husband Steve Heiner, Donna Virden, Kristi Heafner husband John, Greg Leigh, Ben Cordani wife Vicki, Rebecca Garms husband Matt, Bethanie Nicole Cordani, Drew Kinkelaar, Shawn Kinkelaar, Brad Kinkelaar, Angie Moore husband Tim, Chad Cordani wife Kelli, Tim Cordani wife Becky, Marny Fitzpatrick, Charles Montgomery wife Mandy, Max Montgomery Jr., Diana Montgomery, Angela Montgomery, Aimee Pelarski husband Dan; 25 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers: Jim Moreland wife Dorothy, Argenta, IL; William D. "Bill Moreland wife Nancy, Coperas Cove, TX and Jerry Wayne Moreland wife Donna, Taylorville, IL; sister Betty Adden, Nokomis, IL; and by her sisters-in-law Kathleen Moreland, Mangum, OK, Lois Moreland, Florissant, MO and Pat Moreland, Taylorville, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Warren L. Dean, granddaughter Lisa DeWerff, brothers Richard "Bud" Moreland, Carl Edward Moreland, Jack Allen Moreland; sister Mabel Ann Pope, and daughter-in-law Brenda Cordani. Funeral Information Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 11, 2011 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Nokomis at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Burt Eickhoff officiating. Burial will be in Witt Cemetery. Friends may call on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home, Pana and Tuesday one hour prior to the service at the church.