Pauline Berg
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Pauline Berg, of Mulkeytown, Illinois passed away at the Du Quoin Hospital on the evening of Oct. 14, 2009.
She was born Rachel Pauline Spann, Aug. 23, 1922 to Lula and Archie Spann on the family farm down Peach Orchard Road in Mulkeytown. Her parents raised a large and close family which eventually came to include five girls; Helen, Zella, Pearl, Pauline and Viva and three boys; Cotton (Ernest), Red (Lois) and Marion. In July 1940, she married her dear husband Lonie Berg who died in 1996.
She was the beloved mother of two sons. Sadly two daughters died on the days of their birth. Son Donnie Berg predeceased her last January. Her son Ronnie Berg of Mulkeytown will always cherish his Mother's memory.
She was many things to many people. She spent more than twenty years employed in the Garment Industry and continued as a very active member of the Silver Threads. She then worked many years at the Benton Hospital with the food service staff. She was a loving dedicated caretaker to her aged Mother, until her Mother's death, and then continued working several years, into her seventies, as a homecare worker with ACHS.
She was a woman of many gifts who accomplished whatever she set her mind to. After attending West Center School in her youth she took and passed her High School GED test when in her sixties. This was one example of her intelligence and determination.
In the early 1950's, she and her husband bought their family home in the country atop a scenic hill adjacent to the West Center School . Later, when this one room red brick school was closed they were able to buy the old schoolhouse. Her neighbors and friends still have many pleasant recollections of the Saturday nights when Pauline and Lonie hosted square dancing and country music get-togethers there. It also served as the meeting place for family dinners, reunions, birthdays, benefit dinners for the Community and families, and even neighborhood quilting days.
She is survived by her son, Ronnie E. (Ronald) Berg as well as her oldest sister, Helen Cockrum, her youngest sister, Viva Morgan, sisters-in-law Edna Spann, Ardath Ann Spann and brothers-in-law Allen Prior and Paul Morgan. Her many nieces and nephews from the Berg and Spann families will remember her with love and deserved respect. Niece, Brenda Bates Loucks, has been a special helper in recent years.
Proverbs 10:7 tells us that the memory of a good person is a blessing. We were greatly blessed.
Visitation was at Bear Point Church at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20 the funeral to follow at 1:00 p.m. with Brother Larry Cook officiating. Lunch was served to family and friends by the Ladies Auxiliary at Bear Point Church after burial services at Paradise Prairie Cemetery. Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home (618)625-2411 in Sesser is in charge of funeral arrangements.