Delores Ann Neill

Delores Ann Neill, age 94, of Chadwick, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at her home, surrounded by the love of her family and in the care of hospice. A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 AM Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at SS. John and Catherine Catholic Church, Mt. Carroll. A luncheon will follow immediately, and then burial of ashes in the Chadwick Cemetery.

Delores was born January 31, 1932, in Sterling, Illinois, the daughter of Clifford and Louisa (LeDuc) Yell. She graduated from Catholic Community High School with the Class of 1949. On December 27, 1954, Delores married Raymond Harrison Neill in Sterling. Together they shared many years of marriage and family life until his passing in 2011.

Education was an important part of Dee’s life. She earned her Master’s Degree in Education and devoted 22 years to teaching at Malabar Street School in East Los Angeles, where she served as a bilingual Elementary School teacher. Her career allowed her to combine her love of learning with her gift for helping others, touching the lives of many students along the way.

Following retirement, Dee and Ray returned to Chadwick in 1996. She was a member of SS. John and Catherine Catholic Church, Mt. Carroll. She belonged to the Red Hat Society, volunteered with Good Samaritan and the Camp Fire Girls, and was always willing to lend her time and talents wherever they were needed.

Dee loved playing bridge and especially enjoyed golf. Her interest in the game took her across the country attending golf tournaments, where she also spent many years helping with catering. At home, she enjoyed gardening alongside her sister and was rarely without some type of craft project in her hands. Crocheting and creating things for others brought her great enjoyment.

Above all, Dee treasured her family. She will be dearly missed by her children, Nancy Mitchell of Chadwick, Daniel Neill of California, Laurie (Buster) Baglieri of California, Marci Neill of California and adopted daughter Chas Wilson; her grandchildren, Whitney Mitchell, Jaemi (Rose) Lehmann, Philip (Jessica Gomez) Baglieri, Natalee Baglieri, Jackie Wilson, Johnny Wilson, and Allie Wilson; her great-grandchildren, Caiden Lehmann and Alina Baglieri; her siblings, Clifford Yell and Joyce Daehler; along with many extended family members and friends.

Delores was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Raymond; her daughter, Cheryl Neill; her granddaughter, Cassie Lazcano; her brother, Leroy Yell; brothers-in-law, Thomas Neill and Donovan Daehler; and sisters-in-law, Rachel Yell, Earlene Martin, and Patricia Lewis.