Linda Dianne Govaia, 78, of Hillsboro, died at 8:23 a.m. on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at Timber Creek Assisted Living in Litchfield.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, May 19, at the Bass-Patton-Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro at 12 p.m. A visitation will be held prior to the service starting at 10 a.m. Burial will be held in Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsboro. Pastor Mark Noyes will be officiating.
Mrs. Govaia was born on Sept. 6, 1946, the daughter of Earl Leo and Juanita Eileen (Ashmore) Kershaw in Hillsboro.
She married Frederick “Gene” Govaia on Sept. 9, 1961, in Hillsboro. He preceded her in death on April 17, 2020.
Mrs. Govaia started her career at a young age at the Capri IGA grocery store in Hillsboro where she remained employed for 38 years before retiring. She also was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hillsboro.
She loved her time at home, her favorite place to be. Her favorite hobby was cross stitching. Her home was adorned with beautiful pieces and she also loved stitching gifts for family and friends. Mrs. Govaia also loved her Bible studies with her women friends, her Bingo at Timber Creek Village and baking. Her family felt that there was no one that could bake an apple pie, cherry pie, peanut butter cookies or red velvet cake like hers.
But everyone will tell you there was no greater love for Mrs. Govaia than her beautiful children and grandchildren. She enjoyed every moment with them including their sporting events, phone calls, visits etc. and when one would get ready to leave her home her famous last words were, “There’s no need to hurry off.”
Mrs. Govaia was an avid decorator in her home. Every holiday, decorations adorned her home. In her younger years, she also loved having the huge family holidays with the full-blown meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas for the whole extended family.
Halloween was another favorite of hers. She loved the trick or treaters. Mrs. Govaia was known for her famous popcorn balls, orange jello and marshmallow and brown sugar. She would make 100 to 200 popcorn balls every year and loved doing so. She would get phone calls and be approached over and over requesting her delicious recipe.
Mrs. Govaia is survived by her son, Monte (wife, Robin) Govaia of Litchfield and daughters, Tammy (husband, Randy) Greenwood and Ranae Snider, both of Hillsboro; grandchildren, Cody (wife, Kassie) Greenwood, Dustin (wife, Heather) Greenwood, Devin Greenwood, Nikki (husband, Shawn) Warshol, Erik Govaia, Corbin (wife, Kaitlin) Govaia, Derek Martin, Jaden Martin and Trey Snider; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brothers, Marvin (wife, Sandy) Kershaw of Hillsboro and Steven (wife, Debbie) Kershaw of Virden; brother-in-law, Ronnie Grabow of Irving and sister-in-law, JoAnne Major of Pawnee; along with many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Gene, Mrs. Govaia was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Stacey Snider; brother-in-law, Jay Major; and sister-in-law, Marsha Grabow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mrs. Govaia ’s memory may be directed towards the First Baptist Church of Hillsboro or the Montgomery County Cancer Association (MCCA) at Montgomery County Cancer Association, 106 Pinnacle Point Dr. Hillsboro, Il 62049. Condolences may be left online at www.basspattondeanfh.com.
