Alverna V. Parker
November 7, 1916 — April 3, 2016
Alverna Virginia Parker, 99, of Rock Island, formerly of Sherrard, IL, died Sunday, April 3, 2016, at Silver Cross Nursing and Rehab, Rock Island, IL.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at Community Presbyterian Church, 2nd Avenue and 3rd Street, Sherrard, IL. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Sherrard Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Presbyterian Women’s Organization of Community Presbyterian Church. Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd., Orion, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Alverna was born on November 7, 1916, in Parker Run, Mercer County, IL, the daughter of Anders Victor and Anna Peterson Carlson. She married Howard Parker on September 17, 1934, in New Windsor and he preceded her in death on December 22, 2002.
In her younger years, Alverna worked as a telephone operator and then for Joe’s Market, both in Sherrard. She later worked for the Sherrard Dry Goods Store and lastly, for the Dairy Queen in Milan. More than anything, Alverna loved being a homemaker and taking care of her family.
Alverna was a charter member of Community Presbyterian Church in Sherrard, where she sewed and quilted for fundraising efforts. She was also a member of the Presbyterian Women’s Organization, the Lioness Club in Sherrard and a befriender at the former Lutheran Hospital. Alverna belonged to the Women’s Club of Sherrard and was a lifetime member of the Andalusia Order of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include her sons, Ronald Leroy (Marlene) Parker, Coal Valley, IL, and Jerald Denean (Karen) Parker, Sherrard, IL; 4 grandchildren; Angie (Lex) Miller, Osceola, IN, David (Lisa) Parker, Andalusia, IL, Becky (Andy) Douglas, Milan, IL, and Dan (Beth) Parker, Andalusia, IL; 9 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; sister, Elnora (Olin) Cowser, Woodhull, IL; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard; brothers, John Carlson and an infant brother; 2 sisters, Ethel Flaherty and Margaret Parker.
The family would like to send a special thank you to Friendship Manor, especially to Kathy and Rose, for the excellent care of Alverna and her family.
Memories may be left online by visiting esterdahl.com.