Kaaren J. Gilliland, 60, of Urbana, passed away at 3:03 p.m., Sunday, June 19th, 2016 at Presence-Covenant Medical Center after a three-month battle with cancer.

A visitation will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Friday, June 24th at Renner-Wikoff Chapel and Crematory, 1900 S. Philo Rd., Urbana. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home immediately following the visitation at 3:00 p.m. Cremation services will be provided at Renner-Wikoff Chapel's on-site crematory following Kaaren's funeral. Burial of Kaaren's ashes will be held at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Champaign Saturday, June 25th at 11:00 a.m.

Kaaren was born November 4th, 1955 at Burnham hospital in Champaign, Illinois, to parents Donald and Rita (Collins) Sommer. She married John Gilliland May 14th, 1977 in Urbana, Illinois. Her parents and husband survive. Kaaren is also survived by her three children: Jessica, Samuel, and Andrew Gilliland, sister, Kimberly Young (Jeff), and grandchildren: Taylor Gilliland, Shyanna Young, and soon to be born Calvin Gilliland.

Kaaren had numerous part time jobs through the years, but her main focus was raising her children. She enjoyed sewing her family's clothing and creating their Halloween costumes. She was an extremely talented artist, and would paint fantastic scenes on anything that stayed still. She was a spunky, left-handed redhead who hated having her picture taken. Despite the lack of pictures, her family will always remember her- as a thoughtful, loving mother, sister, and wife, and grandmother.

Memorial contributions may be made to the International Child Art Foundation at www.icaf.org or to the art department of a local school. Condolences may be offered online at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.