Nellie Austin
Dow |
On Monday, November 6, 2023 Nellie (Nell) Austin, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away at the age of 83 at Alton Memorial Rehab and Therapy. She was born on December 25, 1939 in Dow, Illinois the daughter of the late Clifford J. and A. Fontaine (Stotler) Clowers. On September 17, 1960, she married Robert (Bob) Austin at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Alton and together they shared 56 years of marriage. Throughout the years much time was spent in their restored 1930 Ford Model A, attending numerous car shows and antique car club trips with their fellow car club friends. He preceded her in death on September 30, 2016. Nell was an active member of the Twin City Area Optimist Club and even after Bob was gone, she maintained her memberships and continued to be active in the St. Louis Model A Restorers Club and the Show Me Antique Car Club.
Nell prided herself in her work as a nurse for over 30 years, retiring from Mercy Jefferson Hospital in Festus, MO. She also had an affinity for all things Christmas, being a Christmas baby herself, and was overjoyed to share the Christmas spirit with others. But what gave her the most joy in life was being a grandmother and great-grandmother.
Nell is survived by her daughter Julie (Dereck) Cook of Godfrey, two grandsons, Andrew (Holly) Cook of Oceanside, CA, and Alex Cook of Chesapeake, VA, three great-grandsons, Colton, Archer and Weston Cook who lovingly referred to her as “Grandma Awesome”, one sister, Shirley Noble, and many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews.
Visitation will be from 1:00pm until the time of the funeral service at 3:00pm on Sunday, November 19, 2023 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton. A funeral procession will leave Gent Funeral Home at 10:45 a.m. Monday, November 20, 2023 for graveside services at 11:00 a.m. at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Additional information and online guest book may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com
Gent Funeral Home
