Gwen McNamara Floreth, 98, died Sunday morning, April 18, 2021, at Unity Point Proctor Hospital in Peoria. Prior to Gwen’s death, she resided at Lutheran Hillside Village in East Peoria, Illinois.
Mrs. Floreth was born May 12, 1922, in Lowder, to Goldie Elizabeth Ray and Daniel Webster Costley.
She graduated from Litchfield High School with the class of 1940. She received her bachelor of science in education from Illinois College in Jacksonville. She married Phillip Roberts McNamara in June 7, 1944, in Austin, TX.
Mrs. Floreth was very active in the community. She taught in the local school district. She served as secretary to two mayors, Dean Meier and Gene Barenholtz. She was a member of the Litchfield Women’s Club, Litchfield Country Club and served on the Litchfield Carnegie Library Board. She was instrumental in organizing the St. Francis Candy Striper Program and served as the first president of the St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary.
She enjoyed playing bridge, reading, traveling, gardening, needlework, and spending time with her family.
Her husband Dr. Phillip McNamara, who practiced optometry in Litchfield for over 37 years, preceded her in death in 1990. She later married Dr. Nelson Floreth, who preceded her in death in 2004.
She is survived by her four daughters, Mrs. G. Bradley (Anne) Hantla of Litchfield, Mrs. L. Lowell (Meg) Ray of Peoria, Mrs. Nick (Nancy) Ciaccio of Champaign, and Mrs. and Rick (Lisa) Wager of Belleville. She has eleven grandchildren, Marcy Sigler, Allison Boatright, Kit Hantla, Elizabeth Niehaus, Andrew and Natalie Ciaccio, Brian and Philip Ray, Greg and Sara Wagner. She also has 16 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Phyllis Wickert Rogers, and a grandson, Matthew Philip Wickert.
A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Litchfield Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
