Barbara Jo (Hemken) Whitworth, 44, of New Douglas, died at 3:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 25, at Perfetti-Assalley Funeral Home, located at 201 S. Main Street, Sorento, IL 62086. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at the funeral home with the Rev. Daniel Hemken officiating. Interment will follow the ceremony at Sunnyside Cemetery in Sorento.
Mrs. Whitworth was born Feb. 10, 1979, in Litchfield, the daughter of Mary Jo (Randle) and Paul E. Hemken, Sr. She graduated from Greenville High School with the Class of 1997. She married Michael E. Whitworth on Sept. 29, 2012, at the Salem United Church of Christ in Alhambra, and they enjoyed nearly eleven years of marriage.
Mrs. Whitworth loved the water, camping, and four-wheeler riding, but her passion was music. Mrs. Whitworth especially enjoyed listening to 105.7 “The Point,” where she won several call-in contests. Family and friends would often hear her call in as “Barb from New Douglas.” Of all Mrs. Whitworth’s interests, she devoted as much time as possible to her daughters and husband. She loved her family deeply, and she was loved by all who knew her.
Mrs. Whitworth is survived by her husband, Michael E. Whitworth of New Douglas; daughters, Cassandra Kenetzer of Livingston, Allison Kenetzer of Benld and Kirielle Kovaly of Livingston; parents, Mary Jo and Paul E. Hemken, Sr. of Sorento; brothers, Eldon (fiancée Karen) Hemken of Sorento and the Rev. Daniel (Kim) Hemken of Clay Center, KS; mother-in-law, Donna Lockhart of New Douglas; father-in-law, Danny Whitworth of Alhambra; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her infant twin brothers, James and Joseph Hemken; maternal grandparents, Kenny and Opal Randle; and paternal grandparents, Leslie and Dorothy Hemken.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Sorento Presbyterian Church, 109 W. Taylor Street, Sorento, IL 62086.
Please visit www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com to share memories of Mrs. Whitworth, or to offer condolences to her family.
