Ida M. Wheatley Groh
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Ida M. Wheatley Groh, 89, of Granite City, Illinois passed away at 10:47 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 at Rosewood Care Center in Edwardsville.
She was born May 22, 1920 in New York, New York, a daughter of the late Salvador "Sam" and Frances (Mangiapana) Mannino. She married Earl N. "Boots" Wheatley in 1935 and he preceded her in death in 1979, she later married Bob James Groh in 1980 and he preceded her in death in 1993.
She worked at Carpts Department Store in Granite City and Rector Brothers Department Store in Du Quoin for many dedicated years as a sales clerk. She was a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Granite City and had volunteered with St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Granite City and was a former member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Du Quoin and St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Evans, Georgia. She had a special love of her animals and enjoyed her days of traveling, camping and sewing. She will be remembered for the love of her family and the special times spent with her grandchildren.
She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Fred Hiller of Appling, Georgia; three sons and daughters-in-law, Buryl N. and Jan Wheatley of Granite City, Earl "Jr." and Dolores Wheatley of Granite City and Bob and Janet Wheatley of Granite City; 11 grandchildren and spouses, Gary and Pam Hiller, Diana and John Housley, James and Wendi Hiller, Tom and Jodi Hiller, Kim and Todd Bogenrief, Karrie and Rick Hyde, Kellie Shipp, Michelle and Rodney Sampson, Chris and Jeff Walker, Erika and Mark Brokaw and April and Cale Becker; 41 great grandchildren; eight great-great grandchildren; one sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Gene Brock of Arkansas; one brother, Vincent Mannino of Waterloo; many nieces; nephews; other extended family and friends.
In addition to her beloved parents and both husbands, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Santina Wilburn and Frances Wilburn and two brothers, Natalie Mannino and Vito Mannino.
In celebration of her life, visitation was held at Irwin Chapel, 3960 Maryville Road in Granite City on Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A funeral mass was celebrated at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Granite City on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. with Father Chris Comerford as celebrant. Graveside services were at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Du Quoin on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
Memorials may be made to BJC Hospice of Alton and may be accepted at the funeral home.