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On May 17, Bonnie Jean Morris Friend (Welch) died as she lived, peacefully and happy to be at home, accompanied by her partner of 26 years, Jerry Friend Sr., and her two born children.
A Celebration of the Life of Bonnie Jean Morris Friend will be held on Saturday, May 21, at her house located at 629 5th St. in La Salle, from 3 to 7 p.m. The Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle is assisting the family with arrangements.
She was born in Peoria on June 16, 1953, to Mildred [Mlakar] (supermom) & Gerald Welch (union carpenter foreman/BA). She lived between Peoria and Peru as her father's work dictated until the family permanently settled in Peru close to her grandparents and extended family in 1965.
She was an avid reader, learner and enthusiast of all things art related and highly skilled in each of those pursuits. She attended Catholic primary schools and then attended La Salle-Peru High School, where she graduated with the class of 1971. She went on to earn her AA degree from IVCC in 1986.
Bonnie married Bruce Joseph Morris in July 1973 and they embarked on adventures ranging from dwelling in a Christian hippie commune in St Augustine, Florida, to subsisting as a seamstress and leather craftsperson in Appleton, Wisconsin, where in 1976 they welcomed their first born, Destin. They soon moved back to the Illinois Valley and in June 1978 they welcomed their second born, Oriel Star, while living and working at St Bede.
Yearning for more adventure, they packed up the family in the summer of 1984 and moved back to Florida. This time they settled down on Anna Maria Island, where they started their business, Island Cleaning and Maintenance Service.
Bonnie and Bruce divorced in 1997. Bonnie started an antiques business and later met her life and new adventure partner, Jerry Friend Sr. in 1998. Bonnie and Jerry moved back to Illinois together to care for her mom, Millie, in 2000 and bought their beloved forever home in La Salle in 2006. Bonnie and Jerry's adventures included hunting the local area for antique and vintage treasures, then hosting massive yard sales to make space for more while always prioritizing having fun and laughing together. She spent the past 16 years very happily fussing around her house with remodeling, decorating and gardening.
Bonnie worked for over 21 years at The Mendota Reporter, where she took great pride in her craft. She started as a social editor, later becoming the editor-in-chief and earned statewide awards for her stories. She loved sharing the stories and events of Mendota and beyond through writing and photography and relished the sense of providing benefit to her community with her thoughtful talents and skills.
Bonnie is survived by her life partner, Jerry Friend Sr., her two born children, Destin and Oriel Morris and two heart children, Jerry "Chip" Friend Jr. and Frank Friend, her grandchildren Kaya Haddix Morris, Madison Friend and Nina Friend, her father Gerald Welch and her two nieces Jacey Etscheid and Terri Welch.
Online condolences may be viewed and remembrances shared at www.hurstfuneralhomes.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2025 Contact Information: Ride Illinois Dave Simmons, executive director (630) 216-9282 dave@rideillinois.org
Illinois Bike & Walk Summit coming to Springfield
Creating Connected Livable Thriving communities: Illinois Bike & Walk Summit Fosters Learning and Lobbying Among Advocates and Practitioners
Ride Illinois and its partner organizations are pleased to announce the 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit. Three hundred advocates, professionals, and public officials will gather in Springfield (May 7-8, 2025) for an important conference to help shape the future of biking and walking across the state. The conference will take place over two days in Springfield. Day One - May 7 ● A welcome from Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher ● Breakout sessions with topics including: ○ Completing the Great American Rail Trail ○ Developing Low-Stress Bike Networks ○ Bike/walk legislation at the state and federal level: 2025 and beyond ● Keynote Speaker: Tom Flood ○ A bold and visionary advocate who uses striking design and messaging to challenge car-centric culture, and a champion spokesman of safer streets for all. ○ Flood's Presentation Topic: Reframing Road Safety. This presentation will highlight his work and its importance in challenging the narrative around active transportation and road safety.
Day Two - May 8 ● Lobby Day ● Workshops focused on: ○ Advocacy training ○ Trail development ○ Best practices for the planning, design, and incorporation of complete streets into transportation projects. ○ CM and PDH credits available. Dave Simmons, executive director of Ride Illinois, emphasized the new format of lobbying and advocacy: “It’s important that elected officials hear from their constituents. Lobby Day is an opportunity for Illinois residents to voice their concerns related to biking and walking in their community.” The legislative goals of Lobby Day include advocating for bills that will increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher shared, “I am honored to greet attendees to the 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit. I look forward to the summit and also look forward to making Springfield a more bike/walk friendly community.” With a strong foundation built on the educational and empowering sessions of day one, the day of lobbying will bring a buzz to Springfield with the hope of creating safer, more accessible active transportation options for all ages and backgrounds. The end goal being that active transportation becomes a viable and welcoming choice for everyone. Conference Details ● Illinois Bike & Walk Summit to convene in Springfield, May 7-8 with a focus on creating connected, livable, thriving communities. ● Highlights of the event include: ○ Keynote speaker Tom Flood ○ Inaugural lobby day ○ Breakout sessions ○ Workshops ○ Networking opportunities ● The 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit will take place at the Wyndham Springfield City Center, conveniently located in the heart of Illinois’ state capital. ● Registration for the conference starts at the affordable price of $20! ● For more information and to register for this event, visit IllinoisBikeWalkSummit.org.
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