SHERBURNE – Ila M. Monroe, 87, of State Route 12, passed away Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 at Community Memorial Hospital, Hamilton.
She was born May 15, 1922 in Jonesboro, Tenn., a daughter of Bernie and Sophia Decker Byrd and received her education in local schools. On Jan. 1, 1943, Ila married Leslie A. Monroe in Smyrna. He predeceased her on May 23, 2008. A Sherburne resident since her marriage, Ila had been a cafeteria worker and cook for Sherburne-Earlville Central School for 20 years, retiring in 1984. She and her husband also owned and operated Monroe’s Nursery in Sherburne from 1962 to 1993. Ila was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother whose greatest joy was visits from her grandchildren. She loved baking for her children and grandchildren, reading, doing needlepoint and puzzles as well as bird watching, especially the red cardinals.
Mrs. Monroe was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sherburne and the Order of the Eastern Star #631 of Sherburne.
Surviving are three sons, Daniel B. Monroe and Cora Rivers of Smyrna; William F. Monroe and Diane Losee of Sherburne; Fredrick A. Monroe of Chicago, Ill.; a daughter, Doris Monroe of Earlville; seven grandchildren, Tammy Sweet of Fort Plain; Amy Graham of Smyrna; Carrie Monroe of Sherburne; Lindsey Monroe of Sherburne; Brian Shaw of Hamilton; Jeremy and Kristina Shaw of Sherburne; and Eric and Rebecca Graham of Smyrna; a son-in-law, Gary Graham of Smyrna; four brothers, Fredrick Byrd of Orlando, Fla.; Billie Byrd of Jonesboro, Tenn.; Guy Byrd of Mt. Joy, Pa. and Kenneth Byrd of Jonesboro, Tenn.; a sister, Ruth Linkous of Rogersville, Tenn.; six great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter Nancy Graham on Feb. 12, 2008, and a daughter-in-law, Patricia Monroe.
Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday from the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne.
Interment will be in the Willcox Cemetery, Town of Smyrna.
Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 9 to 11 a.m. prior to the service.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 556, Sherburne, NY 13460; or to a charity of one‚s choice.
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.