Cecilia A. Tucker Aten, 85,  died at 5:50 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Born Sept. 18, 1924, in Peoria to John R. and Anne Frey Tucker Sr., she married Merlin W. Aten May 23, 1953, at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in East Peoria. He survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Merla Kay Crider of Bloomington and Theresa M. Aten of Milwaukee; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her brother, John R. Tucker Jr.; one sister, Helen Jean Zettel; and two great-grandchildren.

She was a 1942 graduate of East Peoria High School.

She worked at Caterpillar Inc. in the mail room for 40 years, retiring in 1982.

She was a descendant of three of the founding families of the City of East Peoria, and was a lifelong member of St. Monica’s Catholic Church in East Peoria.

A Funeral Mass for Cecilia will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in East Peoria. The Rev. Fr. Ken Marchulones will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory in East Peoria, where a rosary service will be held at 3:45 p.m. Additional visitation will be one half-hour prior to Mass on Monday at the church. Burial will be at Fondulac Cemetery in East Peoria.

Memorials be made to the WTVP Program Fund.

Her Web site will be available online at www.deitersfuneralhome.com, where condolences may be made to the family.