Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

Deaths

Dorothy Norma Cummings, 93, died June 20 at Willowbrook in Savoy, Illinois. Cummings worked at the U. of I. for 15 years, retiring in 1981 as a clerk III at the Physical Plant. Memorials: Horbo Light Hospice, 800 Roosevelt Road, Building C, Suite 206, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137. 

Mary Jane Danner, 86, died June 25 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. Danner worked as a maid for University Housing for 28 years, retiring in 1994. Memorials: Carle Hospice Foundation, carle.org; or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionary Fund, www.lds.org.

Beverly Frederick, 85, died June 22 at her Urbana home. She worked at the U. of I. for 34 years, retiring in 1985 as a secretary III in the Office of the Provost. Memorials: First United Methodist Church, 304 S. Race St., Urbana, IL 61801, www.fumc-urbana.org

Jane Taylor Hedges, 64, died June 17 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. She worked at the U. of I. for 17 years as an associate editor in the department of history, retiring in 2013. She was managing editor for the interdisciplinary journal Slavic Review. She also was an active mentor in the Champaign-Urbana One-to-One Mentoring Program, which provides scholarships for lower income pre-college students. And she volunteered as a mentor with the U. of I.’s Promise Program, which helps underprivileged students. Memorials: Champaign-Urbana One-to-One Mentoring Program at cu1to1.org/donate or Illinois Promise at giving.illinois.edu

Mark Peden, 63, died June 14 at Heartland Healthcare in Urbana. He was a principal scientist at the Illinois Water Survey for 28 years, retiring in 2002. He was the assistant chief of the Illinois Water Survey and the director of the Central Analytical Lab. Memorials: Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, 346 N. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820. 

Floyd “Keith” Pforr, 73, died June 23 at the Champaign County Nursing Home, Urbana. Pforr worked nearly 19 years at the U. of I. as a building service worker, retiring in 2007. Memorials: Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org; and White Heath United Methodist Church, 112 W. High St., White Heath, IL 61884.

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