Makanda - Cecilia F. "Chilang" Cottingham, 75, passed away at 11:15 a.m., Friday, December 5, 2014 at home with her daughter by her side. Chilang was born on June 7, 1939 in Guam to Jose L. and Maria (Taijeron) Fernandez. She was raised by Carmen Mendiola Fernandez after her mother, Maria passed away. She married Steven M. Cottingham on October 29, 1973 in Guam. Chilang is survived by her son, Joseph Cottingham of Vienna; daughter, Maria Sileven (Larry Cantrell) of Makanda; brothers, David (Daisy) Fernandez, Frankie (Josephina) Fernandez, Joseph Fernandez and Ben (Olivia) San Agustin, all of Guam, Anthony (Monica) Fernandez, and Vicente (Rosa) Fernandez all of WA; sisters, Rose (Manuel) Cruz, Rosa San Agustin Guerrero, Laling San Agustin, Carmen (Jeph) Garcia, Bobbie (Rudy) Lanada all of Guam, Dolores Wusstig of CA, Agnes Fernandez Anderson all of Corbin, KY, and Teresita Fernandez Sanchez of Fayetteville, NC; grandchildren, Jacob and Braden Sileven, Piper and Paris Cantrell, Emilee Myers, Adrianna Jacobs and Brinley Alexander; mother-in-law, Luan Cottingham of MI; brother-in-law, Frank Cottingham of MI; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews; special dear friends, Bill and Sharon Shacklee, and Tom and Chilang Lawless. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Steven M. Cottingham, brothers, Inas San Agustin, Eddie Fernandez, Sonny Fernandez and baby Joseph Fernandez, sisters, Kit Bato, Rita Jacobo, brothers-in-law, Pete Jacobo, Flor Bato, Al Sanchez, Gene Anderson and Ben Guerrero, sisters-in-law, Marianna Fernandez and numerous aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and cousins. Chilang has lived in Makanda since 1974, employed as a Library Technician for Carbondale Community High School for 25 years until her retirement in 2011. She was of Catholic faith and the Village Clerk in Makanda for 34 years. A graveside service will be at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at Pleasant Grove Memorial Park, Murphysboro, with Father Robert Flannery officiating. A visitation will be held at Meredith Funeral Home, Carbondale, from 10:00 a.m. until noon, on Wednesday. Memorials to Hospice of Southern Illinois are the preferred form of remembrance, and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Visitation:
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 10
Meredith Funeral Home
Carbondale, Illinois
Visits: 13
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