Thelma Clark, 89, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2015 in Northbrook, IL after an 8 year battle with Alzheimer's.

Beloved wife of the late M.E. Clark and daughter of the late Licinio and Rolanda Parenti. Devoted mother to Becky Henderson and Bill Clark. Proud grandmother of Matthew Henderson, Dear sister of the late Terry Parenti. Cherished sister-in-law, aunt and cousin to many.

Thelma earned a BS from WIU and a MA from U of I. She later received a counseling degree from EIU. Besides teaching HS English, Thelma taught history, psychology, French, coached plays and sponsored debate teams until she took time off to raise her children. Thelma also reviewed books on a Christian radio station and co-wrote a spiritual column with her husband for the News-Gazette called The Open Book. She was co-founder of an organization called Heart to Heart. She was president of the C-U Home Extension Unit and Vice-President of the local Christian Women's Club at one time. She also taught a course for families touched by mental illness through NAMI.

A celebration of Thelma's life will be held in Northbrook sometime in January. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to journeycare.org or to the Alzheimer's Association.