Fern Estella Aderman's Obituary
Fern Estella Aderman, 88, of Decatur passed away at 6:40 a.m., Monday, April 22, 2013, at Decatur Memorial Hospital with family by her side.
Fern Estella Coulter Aderman was born June 4, 1924 on a farm near Marissa, Illinois. She was the youngest child of George Alfred and Elizabeth Mabel Prest Coulter. As a young woman she followed her brother to Colorado, where she met her husband, Earl Adermann. They were married in Las Vegas, New Mexico on August 24, 1946 and enjoyed 61 years together. Fern had a great devotion to her faith, her husband, her family and pets; which was demonstrated in many ways throughout her life. She never wavered in her convictions.
Settling in Decatur, she raised eight children, and provided daycare for a houseful of active grandchildren while their mothers worked. As the matriarch of the family she hosted many celebrations and gatherings at the little house she loved at the end of block. While Earl was alive, they enjoyed square dancing with The Promenaders. Fern played piano by ear, was an avid reader and story teller. She wrote several booklets, among them a history of her church, Christ United Methodist, a memoir about her Mother, a compilation of stories about the Adermann Farm and most recently an autobiography of her life. All of these serve as historical treasures for her family.
Proud of her rich heritage, she often recounted the story of how her grandfather Coulter was a Union soldier in the Civil War and was bitten by a rattlesnake during the California Gold Rush. After he was nursed back to health by a Catholic Nun named Estella, to honor the nun, her name was given to his daughter (Fern's special Aunt) and passed down to Fern as her middle name.
Fern leaves to mourn her beloved family, sons: Lanny Aderman and wife Oke of Decatur, Keith Aderman and long time companion Lyndsey Gordon of San Diego, CA; and Dwight Aderman and wife Shelley of Decatur. Daughters: June Schmidt and husband Eric of Beecher; Shelley Pollock and husband Bob (deceased) of Clinton; Marcie Wigginton and husband Jeff of Clinton; Laurie Montgomery and husband David of Decatur; Joyce Webb and husband Larry of Decatur; nineteen grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren; seven step grandchildren; brother James Ross Coulter and wife Ina of Los Alamos, NM; sister-in-law Beulah Coulter of Sparta, IL; brother-in-law Edwin Adermann and wife Margaret; brother-in-law August Adermann ; sister-in-law Alvena Noffsinger all of Vandalia; many cousins, nieces and nephews; and her two constant companions, her cats Lucy and Louie.
Fern was preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband Earl, three brothers and two sisters, also sons-in-law
Dave Eddy and Bob Pollock, and 'adopted daughter' Patricia Skelton.
Services to celebrate Fern's life will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, April 25, 2013 in Christ United Methodist Church.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 on Wednesday evening at the Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home. Interment
with the 'Flight Home' Ceremony will be in Boiling Springs Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the staff at DMH on Floor 5100 for the exceptional care they provided Fern in her final days.
In Fern's honor, please send memorials to Christ United Methodist Church, of which she was a founding member.
The Aderman family is being served by the Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 2091 N. Oakland Ave., Decatur, IL 62526. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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