BENTON – Mrs. Jane Ellen Freeman Dillon, 87 years, 11 months and 12 days, of Benton passed away at 5:08 p.m. Saturday, February 8, 2025, at her home in Benton, Illinois surrounded by her four children, many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Jane was born on February 27, 1937, at the home of her grandmother in Benton; the daughter of Earnest Freeman and Juanita (Jones) Freeman. Jane was baptized at a young age (March 25, 1951) and was a member of the First Baptist Church for 73 years. She graduated from Benton Consolidated High School in 1955.
She met the love of her life, Donald L. Dillon, while on a hayride in her freshman year of high school. She always told the story they both had gone with other people but left that night together. They proceeded to date throughout high school and married the fall after graduation, September 4, 1955. Together they would share 57 of years of marriage until his death on October 30, 2012. To this union were born Victoria Ann, Donald (Skip) Freeman, Valerie Lynn, and Tracy Lee.
Although Jane worked for a period of time, her greatest joy and passion was her family. She loved traditional Sunday dinners and for decades would fry up numerous chickens and make two homemade pies. Her signature trademark was the kitchen towel she always had over her shoulder and her sweet tea. Having grown up in a small family herself, Jane loved that her house was the gathering place for her kids’ friends and later grandkids and their friends and was known in the community as “Granny.” Her door was never locked, nor did anyone ever have to knock, but just walk in one and all. She would always make up large batches of food for the revolving door of people. It wasn’t unusual on a Friday night after a football game to see a line from her kitchen through the house and out the front door of hungry teenagers waiting for their turn and never knowing what kids she would find sleeping on her couch.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, husband, infant brother, and a sister, Patricia (Trish) (Freeman) Aiken.
Surviving are her children, Vicky (Leon) Sanders of Benton, Skip (Joyce) Dillon of Flora, IL, Valerie (Denny) Benns, Valier, IL and Tracy (Kent) Edwards of Memphis, TN; 11 grandchildren, Melanie (Brian) Johns of O’Fallon, IL, Jessica (Josh) Corduan of Lake St. Louis, MO, Steven (Taylor) Sander of Benton, Mitchell Dillon and partner Jose Gracia of New York, NY, Mallori (Corey) Walker of Flora, IL, Nick (Celeste) Batts of Herrin, IL, Cassie Jay and significant other Chris Oraha of Benton, Jake (Katie) Batts of Benton, Audry (Aaron) Ginsburg of New York, NY, Meredith Hamilton of Nashville, TN and Quincy Hamilton and fiancé Logan Snell of Indianapolis, IN; 14 great-grandchildren, Piper Corduan, Timber, Tinley and Ranger Sanders, Mia and Cameron Walker, Hayes and Peyton Batts, Karrigan and Harrison Jay, Carter, Henry and Wells Batts, and Sloane Ginsburg, nieces, Laura Aiken and Lynne Aiken of San Angelo, TX; cousins, Barbara (Ken) Whittington of Benton, Kathy Dwyer of Benton and Lynette Keeling of Louisville, KY; brothers-in-law, Butch (BJ) Dillon of Marcellus, MI, and David (Katie) Dillon of Austin, TX; sisters-in-law, Darlene (Randy) Ayres of San Antonio, TX, and Jane Sanders of Benton; and a close friend since 3rd grade, Suzanne (Suzie) Baker of Benton.
Funeral services for Jane will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2025, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, IL, with Pastor Jim Jenkel officiating. Burial will follow in the Masonic & Odd Fellow Cemetery of Benton, IL. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Benton and will be accepted at the funeral home.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Jane, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.
