Helen “Ann” Deobler, 81, of Ottawa, passed away on Friday, July 18, 2025 at Pleasant View, surrounded by her loving family.
Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025 at St. Patrick Church in Ottawa with Rev. Patrick Wille, officiating. Burial will be held at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Washburn, IL. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Ann was born on January 13, 1944 at St Francis Hospital in Peoria and grew up in Washburn, IL, the daughter of Roger P. and Helen (Benway) Kelly. She attended Lowpoint-Washburn High School through her junior year, when she transferred to St. Francis Prep, an Aspirant School for the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis in Springfield, IL. She entered the Community in 1962 and left as a senior novice in 1964. She was forever grateful for the influence of those years on her life. It prompted her years of service in religious education, as a lector and Eucharistic Minister at Mass, and as a teacher at the Catholic School.
She married Eric B. Deobler on June 8, 1968 (6/8/68). They met at the University of Illinois where they both majored in Political Science. Later, she received a degree in education from Illinois State University and spent many years as a substitute teacher in area schools and as a full-time teacher in Marseilles and at St. Anthony School until 2010. She felt her life prepared her especially for her 11 years with the students there.
She is survived by her husband, Eric; two daughters, Lynn (Ricardo) Gonzalez and Erin (David) Nolan; 4 grandsons: Antonio and Ethan Gonzalez and Liam and Eric Nolan. She is also survived by her brother, William R. (Jayne) Kelly, 10 nieces and nephews and many grand nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her younger brother Michael J. Kelly.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons, sons-in-law, and her nephews. Honorary Pallbearers will be convent class mates, Isabelle White and Lynne Neyhart; lifelong friends, Judy Johnson, Peggy Gobert, Charlotte Barnes, and Janet Griffin; and Ottawa friends Mary Jean Weihman and Mary Miller.
Memorial may be directed to St. Patrick Church, Ottawa, St. Michael the Archangel Church, Streator, or to the Passionist Nuns, St. Joseph Monastery, 8564 Crisp Road, Whitesville, KY, 42378.
You may sign the online guestbook and share remembrances at www.MuellerFH.com. Mueller Funeral Home and Crematory 800 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350 815-434-4433.