WCHS Ex-Board Member Passed Away

Posted on by March 3, 2018

Clarence De Mattei, 87, passed away Thursday, March 1, 2018, at 3:42 am at Heartland Regional Medical Center.

Clarence was born in his home in Benton, Illinois, on July 10, 1930, to Aldo Giuseppe Angelo (Joe) and Ernestine (Lovati) De Mattei from Cuggiono, Milano, Italy.

He graduated from Benton High School in 1948 and enlisted in the Navy. He returned and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Southern Illinois University in 1952.  His passions were woodworking, craftsmanship, drafting, construction, and athletics, and he had a positive impact on hundreds of students, athletes, and colleagues.  He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Mary Jean O’Hara De Mattei, in 1954.  He was blessed with six children, eight grandchildren, and great-grandbaby soon to be born.  Clarence relished every minute that he spent with his family.

Clarence was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jean, after 63 years of marriage. Also, preceded by his parents, sister Theresa (De Mattei) and her husband William Barminski, sister Josephine (De Mattei) and her husband Richard Nash, brother Aldo De Mattei, brother William “Chick” De Mattei and his wife Vera (Austin), and one nephew Tommy Barminiski. Continue reading →

Index to “Herrin, The Brief History of an Infamous American City” Added to Site

Posted on by February 28, 2018

The index to the book “Herrin, The Brief History of an Infamous American City” has been added to our Master Local History Index. The book was published in 2009 by John Griswold and covers geology of the area, local Native American culture, and the early development of the county going into settlement of Herrin’s Prairie and the development of Herrin.

The text adds 499 references to people, places, events, schools, churches and businesses.