Elfredia Shimchick

Obituaries are typically formulaic, boiling the life of an individual down into a few simple short paragraphs. When they were born, when they died, who survived them, who did not, et cetera. But this is Fredia. Our Fredia. Her life cannot simply be boiled down in that manner. Fredia was so much more and her life was more than just Birth - Death. Yes, she was born September 16, 1947, in Dorena, Missouri, and died January 30, 2024, in Paducah, Kentucky. But within the dash, her life was rich and full, varied and storied. For those who appreciate the typical obituary format, those details are included. But this is not that. It simply cannot be. Fredia loved. Her love was big and fierce. Anyone who met her felt that love in her bright, smiling eyes and warm embrace. She loved the Lord with everything in her. She enjoyed reading her Bible and would talk about the Lord with anyone who would listen. Her favorite hymns were In the Garden by C. Austin Miles and Holy Ground by Geron Davis. She would joke that she couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, but that didn't matter because the Lord said to make a joyful noise and she was going to make some noise for the Lord. Second only to her love for the Lord was her passionate love for her husband, Joseph "Butch" Shimchick. They were married on March 12, 1970, and she often joked that she chased him until he caught her. In recent years, their love took on an air of playfulness as if they had fallen in love again for the thousandth time. She was often seen smiling while listening to him tell a story, even if she'd heard it before. She thoroughly loved her children. Her sons, Joseph, David, Darrel, and John, and her daughters, Virginia and Denyse were her pride and joy. She loved every one of her 28 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren and they were the light of her life. She took great joy in sharing their accomplishments and was so proud of each of them. She deeply loved her brothers, Paul Buddy, Oscar, and Gerald, and her sister, Tonya, as well as many cousins, some of whom called her Sis, her husband's siblings and their families, and her many friends who more often than not, became her family. She just had a way of grafting people into the family and often said, "Family is more than just blood." She said love was meant to be given away and there was always room for "one more" in her heart. Many of the neighborhood children who grew up with her children came to call her Momma Shimchick, and she loved each of them as her own. They all knew she was there when they needed her. Fredia prayed. Fredia found great joy and solace in her faith and was an active member of Dayspring Foursquare Church in South Roxana and Safe Harbor Ministry in the Forman community. She prayed for her children, family, and friends by name daily. Her earnest prayer was that all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would come to faith in Christ. More than a few times she was overheard saying, "The devil can't have my babies." When an unsaved loved one was ill, she would say it was battle time and start praying and singing, "I'm going to the enemy's camp, to take back what he stole from me." Whenever anyone asked her for advice, her first response was frequently, "Pray about it." Fredia gave. She gave her time, her effort, her gifts, and her money. When her son, Joe, gave her new shoes to the homeless man who lived in the junkyard, she sent him back to get the man so she could make sure he had food. After she heard his story, she called her Dad and asked him to give him a job on the farm. It was often joked that instead of bringing home stray animals, her children brought home stray people and Fredia cared for them all. She dedicated 18 years as a volunteer firefighter and certified first responder with the South Roxana Volunteer Fire Department. She also routinely volunteered at the food pantry at Dayspring Foursquare Church in South Roxana. She was an advocate for ectodermal dysplasia, having been a founding member of the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasia (nfed.org) and an advocate for autism awareness. She frequently spent time selecting things for others that she knew they needed or would enjoy. She often bought school supplies or groceries for families in need. Fredia gave, even if it meant Fredia would do without. Ultimately, Fredia chose to give even in death and was an organ and tissue donor. Fredia faced much tragedy in her lifetime. Many loved ones walked ahead of her in death, including her parents Paul Buddy Nance, Sr. and Virginia Lee (Hinkle) Nance, her stepmother Carol (Hart) Nance, her brothers Jerry, Charles, James, Paul Leonard, and Thomas, her sister Penny, her grandson Dalton, and her granddaughter Roquel as well as other family and friends. She also walked through hard times and difficult situations in her lifetime but she never let it dampen her spirit. Though she could have chosen otherwise, she consistently chose to walk in forgiveness and to advise others to do the same. She firmly believed that if the Lord could forgive, so could she. And so she did. Fredia was wise, empathetic, funny, real, and brutally honest. She always gave sound advice and her nuggets of wisdom will be treasured for many years to come. She was often the first to hug you when you needed it. She had a way of peering over her readers and grinning that told you when she was up to something or that she was on the same page as you. She was a staunch defender of the ones she loved but she'd also be the first to tell you when you were stuck on stupid. God forbid she slid her right foot out of her shoe. She loved a good joke as long as no one was hurt by it. She enjoyed studying family genealogy, or digging up bones as she called it, with cousin Dorothy. She loved a good yardsale or trip to Goodwill. She loved spending time in her flower beds and would get irritated every time someone mowed over a plant thinking it was a weed. She also enjoyed Sudoku puzzles and sharing family stories. She graduated from East Alton Wood River High School in 1965. After high school, Fredia worked several years as a machine operator in the shotshell department of the Winchester plant of Olin in Wood River until 1974. Through the years, she babysat for many friends as well as her children and grandchildren. She was everyone's local Avon lady. For the last 20 years, she has been a caregiver through the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services. A few years ago she posted something on Facebook and signed it as Mona Shimchick. Of course, she meant to sign it as Moma Shimchick, but autocorrect got her. Some have affectionately called her Mona ever since. She could have gotten mad, but she didn't because she in addition to meaning My Lady Mona also means noble, good, peaceful, advisor, counselor, and wise protector... and she knew it was an endearment and that it fit. Fredia will be remembered for her selflessness, dedication, and love for her family and community, both in South Roxana, Illinois where she lived for many years, and in Belknap, Illinois where she has lived since 2017. Her presence will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in honor of Fredia on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 1 pm at: Dayspring Foursquare Church 319 Sinclair Avenue South Roxana, Illinois 62087 The family requests instead of flowers those who wish to express sympathy consider donating to Dayspring Foursquare Church with "pantry" in the memo or bring a donation of school supplies to the Celebration of Life service to further Fredia's legacy of giving to children and families in need. Memorials may be made to the family to assist with expenses and may be left in the care of Bailey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 695, Vienna, Illinois 62995.

Elfredia Shimchick

September 16, 1947 - January 30, 2024