Jessie Louise Chesser, 89, of Hillsboro, formerly of Wilmington, died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, at The ARC of Dwight Nursing Home.
Visitation will be held at Baskerville Funeral Home, located at 700 East Kahler Rd. in Wilmington, on Thursday, Feb. 26, from 3 p.m. until the time of the funeral service at 6 p.m. Deacon Jay Plese from St. Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington will preside. Mrs. Chesser will be laid to rest with her late husband, Gene, at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield on Friday morning, Feb. 27, at 11 a.m. Those wishing to attend are requested to meet at the cemetery prior to 10:45 a.m. Reeves, Fruland and Baskerville Funeral Homes and Crematory in Wilmington are assisting with arrangements.
Mrs. Chesser was born Jan. 8, 1937, in Omaha, NE, a daughter of Cleo and Josephine (Hoban) Woodson. She relocated with her family from Omaha to Winchester, where she attended Routt Catholic High School and graduated with the class of 1955. In her youth, she had a great love for tap dancing and was a past member of the Catholic Daughters of America. On April 14, 1956, she married Carl Eugene “Gene” Chesser at Saint Mark Catholic Church in Winchester. Together, they shared 48 years of marriage and raised eight children between Belleville and Wilmington.
Her faith was of deep importance to her life, holding memberships with Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Hillsboro and St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Wilmington, where her children attended parochial school and she was a devoted member of the Catholic Council of Catholic Women. She found strength and purpose through her faith and could often be found praying the rosary, which was part of her everyday life. She devoted much of her life to raising her children. While raising her children, she held employment with the Coil Factory in Dwight and later worked at a grocer in Morrisonville after relocating to Hillsboro.
Mrs. Chesser was a woman of many interests and talents, particularly with crafting. She enjoyed making things with her hands and had a knack for sewing, always making sure her girls had matching holiday outfits. She was also an avid collector. She enjoyed attending antique auctions and amassed numerous treasures over the years that included Avon plates and anything and everything relating to strawberries. She loved working outside in her garden and found great beauty in flowers, a love she shared with her family.
Her core was family, taking great pride in her Irish heritage as a second-generation descendant from immigrants on her mother’s side of the family. More important than that was raising her children and being blessed to see her grandchildren and great-grandchildren added to her family tree. Her deep faith and strength radiated from her, setting a great example for her family and the generations to come.
Mrs. Chesser is survived by her children, Betty Earp, Becky (Steve) Quigley, Donna Chesser, Cecilia Storbeck, Carla (Tim) Smith and Joan Eddy; grandchildren, Josh (Sara) Quigley, Nathan Earp, Travis (Kristen) Quigley, Kate (Chris) Hansen Andrew (Ashley) Storbeck, Brittany (Jong) Kim, Brianne (Jerry) Riggs, Benjamin (Emily) Storbeck and Ian (Kelly) Issert; great-grandchildren, Ava, Ella and Carter Quigley, Zoey and Norah Kate Earp, Wyatt and Mackenzie Quigley, Claire, Julia, Ellie, Phoenix and Knox Hansen, Gavin and Addyson Riggs, Avery Rogowski, Jacobi, Paxton, Leo and Trey Issert-Kim, Ian, Ryker and Rowan Issert, Mavis Storbeck, Emberly Schumacher and Sawyer and Tatum Storbeck; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gene Chesser; daughters, Diana Lynn and Judith Ann; sons-in-law, Dan Earp and Brian Storbeck; and siblings, twin sister, Elizabeth Woodson, Richard Woodson, Charlotte (Nick) Stevenson, Geneann (Don, Sr.) Johnson and Sr. Donna Marie Woodson, OSF.
Condolences may be left at www.baskervillefuneral.com.
