Winifred Belle Delong

BLOOMINGTON, ILL. - Winifred Belle DeLong, age 77, of Bloomington, Illinois died on January 29, 2009 at St. Mary’s Care Center, Madison, Wisconsin. Ms. DeLong was born March 7, 1931 in Muncie, Indiana to Ray I. and Pansy Swartz. Ms. DeLong graduated from Lincoln High School in Winchester, Indiana. She married John Edward DeLong in 1952. She was an active 4-H club leader while raising her family in Hammond, Indiana. She enjoyed being a homemaker and kept herself and her family busy gardening, cooking homemade meals, canning, freezing, and sewing clothes. After moving to Bloomington, IL in 1970, Ms. DeLong began her own clothing alterations business which she continued until her retirement in 2004. She loved plants and gardening, was the co-founder of the Herb Guild of McLean County. She created several educational herb gardens, the most well-known being the Knot Garden at the Funk Prairie Home and the herb garden at the Constitution Trail in Bloomington. She was a beloved teacher and speaker on the topic of herbs and re-created the character of Professor Sprout from Harry Potter to introduce young children to herbs. She is survived by her three children, (Elizabeth) Jane DeLong of East Palo Alto, California, Douglas E. DeLong of Bloomington, Illinois and (Melanie) Sue DeLong, of Madison, Wisconsin; her two sisters Betty Jean Sollars, Yorktown, Indiana and Margaret (Tony) Cole, Waxahachie, Texas; and her former husband, John (Betty) DeLong, Plant City, Florida. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ray and her sister Helen. A Celebration of Life is planned for early Summer in Bloomington, IL. Remembrances may be sent to the group Winifred DeLong Celebration of Life at www.facebook.com. Memorials may be made to Care Wisconsin or St. Mary’s Care Center.