Laura D. "Dō" Sellmyer

Laura D. "Dō" Sellmyer, 93, of Wenona passed away peacefully on February 26, 2023 at St. James Hospital in Pontiac.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM Saturday, March 4, 2023 at St. Mary’s Church in Wenona with the Franciscan Friars officiating. Burial will at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Wenona. A visitation will be in the church on Saturday from 9:30 AM until time of services. The Hurst Funeral Home in Wenona is assisting the family with arrangements.

Mrs. Sellmyer most often answered to Doris or Dō, which was a nickname given by her younger brother. Doris had been a resident of The Inn at Evenglow for the past three years. Doris was born in Odell on October 6, 1929 to Leo and Laura (Harrawood) Wolf and was the fourth of six children. Doris graduated from Odell High School and worked for several years at the Odell State Bank. She married her husband Jim L. Sellmyer on May 8, 1954 in Odell, and he preceded her in death in June of 2020. They moved to Wenona and farmed together for over 60 years. Together, they raised three daughters: Mary (Rick) Reichel of Washington, Ann (Scott) Spangler of Elk Grove Village, and Kay (Glenn) Barry of Cortez, FL. Doris also leaves behind seven grandchildren: Josh Reichel, Megan (Sam) Gannon, Laura Reichel, and Anna Reichel, Andrew(Morgan) Spangler, Joey Spangler, and Nicolette Spangler. She also leaves behind one great-granddaughter, Celeste K. Gannon and her sister-in-law, Bessie Wolf. She also leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Doris is preceded in death by her spouse and her siblings, Alice (Bill) Rondelli, Alvin Wolf, Sister Helen Wolf, Bob (Carol) Wolf, and Mary Lou (Pat) Snyder.

Doris loved working side-by-side with her husband on the farm and operated all pieces of farm machinery. She also served as an Election Judge for Osage Township for many years. Doris was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Wenona. She was an active member of the Altar and Rosary Society, the church choir, and helped organize funeral dinners for many years. She also served as a Eucharistic Minister in the church, providing communion during Mass, as well as to the patients at St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator. To deepen her Catholic faith, she became a Dominican Associate with the Dominican Sisters of Springfield. Doris loved to learn new skills which included flying a plane and earning her pilot’s license. Her family and neighbors benefited from her springerle cookies, her gingerbread houses and other craft projects. Many family and community members were often recipients of her many acts of kindness over her lifetime. Doris loved her husband, her children and extended family with all her heart. She was the strength and core of her family.

The family would like to thank Heritage Manor of Minonk and Evenglow Inn of Pontiac for their excellent care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Altar and Rosary Society.

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