Jessie Marie Castegnaro, nee Whitlock, (86) of Highland, Illinois, died at 9:27 p.m. February 15, 2021, at Highland Healthcare. Jessie was born December 21, 1934, in Fairfield, IL, one of 5 girls, to Lycurgus and Alberta (Close) Whitlock.  She married Wayne Merrill Castegnaro Sr.,  on February 21, 1953, at the Methodist Church in Collinsville, Illinois; the couple had 3 children, Rev. Jan Castegnaro Johnson of Peoria, Illinois, Wayne Castegnaro Jr. (Cindy) of Wamego, Kansas, Joseph Castegnaro (Mari) of Rockford, Michigan. Surviving are 4 grandchildren, Christina (Mike) Shinall of Cookeville, Tennessee, Dang Johnson, of Pekin, Illinois, Sammi and Dominic Castegnaro of Rockford, Michigan, 2 great-granddaughters, Adalyn and Emily Shinall of Cookeville, Tennessee, and 3 step-grandchildren:  Brandon (Marie) Griffee, Melinda (Willy) Bagaga, Allison (Aaron) Ploughman, of Rockford, Michigan, 1 step-great grandson, Charleston Bodiford of Wamego, Kansas, and 3 step-great-grandchildren: Rhemington, Emmerston, and Edisa Bagaga, Ruth and Brandon, Jr. of Rockford, Michigan.  Also surviving are 3 sisters: Doris Oliver of Highland, Illinois Phyllis Fresen of Maryville, Illinois, and Cara Mae Suchman of Columbus, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne, Sr., her parents, one sister, Mary Jo Otis of Champaign, Illinois, 4 brothers-in-law, and her son-in-law, Rev. Gary Johnson.

During her lifetime, Jessie worked for Kroger's grocery store in Collinsville, Illinois, School District #10 as a bookkeeper in the Superintendent's office, and was the owner, with her husband, of Wayne's Pastries in Highland, Illinois for 37 years.  She was a member of the Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland, Illinois.  After her husband died in 2007, Jessie took comfort in watching Cardinal's Baseball, keeping track of pitching records and who was filling the positions on the field, taking over where Wayne, Sr. had left off.

A Service in the Celebration of Jessie's Life will be held at a later date.   Memorials may be sent to Highland Healthcare, Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland, IL, and Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis, MO, or a charity of your choice.

Herr Funeral Home of Collinsville, Illinois is entrusted with Jessie's care.