Sylvia L. Welkie, age 97, of Knox, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, January 29, 2019. Sylvia was born March 23, 1921, in Knox, to Jerry Gurrado and Mary D’Errico Gurrado, both deceased. In 1946, on her 25th birthday, she married Elvin H. Welkie. Together they owned and operated two local businesses, Welkie’s Dry Cleaners and Elvin’s Bar (now O’s Tap). Elvin preceded her in death on July 10, 2005. She is survived by her daughter, Debbie Bennett (Neil) of Louisville, KY, 2 grandchildren, Kevin Bennett (Kelli) and Erin O’Brien (David), 4 great grandchildren, Landon and Norah Bennett and Colin and Anna O’Brien, and 4 sisters, Doris Ghimenti of Carbondale, IL, Edith Gurrado of Knox, Geraldine Baske of Lacrosse, IN and Mary Jane McDonough of Joliet, IL. She was preceded in death by brothers, Mike, Frank, Albert & Joseph Gurrado, and sisters, Lorraine Gurrado and Maddaline Pitts. Funeral services will be Monday, February 4, 2019 at 1:00pm (CT), with visitation beginning at 10:00am (CT) at M.C. Smith Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery in Knox. Memorial contributions may be made to the Knox United Methodist Church.
