Rose M. Crabill

PEORIA HEIGHTS—Rose M. Crabill, 96, of Peoria Heights, formerly of Washington, IL died at 1:25 PM on Monday, December 10, 2007 at Christian Buehler Home in Peoria. Born July 9, 1911, Rose grew up with her five brothers and two sisters in Farmington, Illinois, where her father and mother, Santo and Antonina Battaglia Polito, owned the Polito Produce Store. After graduating from Farmington High School, she entered the St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Peoria, Illinois and obtained her Registered Nurses Degree in 1934. Rose’s professional career included working for Dr. Nichols, and they together were instrumental in the development of Eureka Hospital. She married Claire W. Crabill, also of Farmington, in 1941 and they later settled in Washington. Although Rose gave up her professional practice of nursing, she did not give up caring for family, friends and neighbors whenever they were in need of her skills. Rose was also a talented seamstress; a wonderful baker known for the most tender pie crusts and Christmas cookies; and an ardent gardener with a special love of roses and african violets. She was a faithful member and active volunteer of St. Patrick’s Parish and its Altar and Rosary Society. She also enjoyed her friendships within the Washington Town and Country Gardeners, and the African Violet Society. She delighted in teaching her grandchildren to knit and many a friend’s baby was welcomed in to the world with a pair of booties and a sweater. Rose and Claire lived a full life in Washington, raising two children and contributing to the community in many ways. Once Claire retired from CILCO, they traveled and enjoyed their grandchildren. After Claire’s death in 1980, Rose moved to Peoria Heights to be near her daughter’s family, where she made many new friends and became a devoted member of the St. Thomas Parish. She continued her love of gardening and nurturing young people. Later she moved to the Christian Buehler Home in Peoria where at times the staff would find her watching over her fellow patients in the nursing center. In the end, that staff repaid her with special care to the gratitude of her family. Rose is survived by one son, Warren E. (and Mary Jane) Crabill of Aurora, Illinois; one daughter, Mary Ann (Charles Denne) Knell of Peoria Heights, Illinois; and four grandchildren, Scott (and Faith) Crabill of Salt Lake City, Utah; Sarah (and Uwe) Kraus of Chicago, Illinois; Peter Knell of New York City, New York; and Antonina “Nina” Knell of Dallas, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents, 5 brothers: Joe, Pete, Tony, August and Gene Polito, and 2 sisters: Josephine Polito and Mary Princis. A funeral mass will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington. Msgr. William Watson of St. Thomas Church will officiate. Visitation will be prior to the mass from 9:30-10:45 AM on Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Washington’s Glendale Cemetery. Deiters Funeral Home in Washington is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, Rosie’s children and grandchildren have established the St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing Rose M. Crabill Scholarship, in hopes that future young women will continue her caring and loving ways.

Rose M. Crabill

July 9, 1911 - December 10, 2007