Darlene D. Ready

Darlene D. Ready, age 71, of Mt. Carroll passed away Sunday, April 10, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2011 at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll. Visitation will be held 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, April 14, 2011 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made for the Point Rock Park, Mt. Carroll.
Darlene was born June 17, 1939 in Mt. Carroll, the daughter of Robert and Geneva (Slick) Ritenour. She attended Mt. Carroll Schools. She married Richard Speer in 1957. Darlene later married William “Bill” Ready on February 14, 1979. They have celebrated 32 years of marriage.
Darlene was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She is most remembered for her strong-will, determination, patience, being a hard-worker and when needed, her forgiveness. She loved to dance and enjoyed many beautiful days on the Mississippi; she very much enjoyed collecting porcelain dolls. One of her dear projects was caring for Point Rock Park. She mowed, weeded and beautified the park for several years. Since Darlene was 42, she had the struggle of living with MS and was told that she would not walk. She never complained or gave-in to the disease and continued to work and care for her family up until the last days. She worked for Atwood in Mt. Carroll for 22 years, retiring in 1995.
Darlene will be dearly missed by her husband, Bill Ready of Mt. Carroll; three sons, Rick Speer of Manito, Illinois, Robert ( Debbie) Speer of Mt. Carroll and Brad (Ashlee) Ready of Sabula, Iowa; her daughter, Sherrie (Craig) Vietmeyer of Mt. Carroll; four grandchildren, Christopher (fiancé Amanda) and Courtney Vietmeyer, Jordan Speer and Kylee Ready; and two great grandchildren, Jayden and Hunter Vietmeyer. Darlene is preceded in death by both parents; a grandson, Patrick Vietmeyer; and her brother, Robert Ritenour, Jr. Ready.