Mathis Funeral Home

Visitation will be Tuesday, Feb. 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. and a celebration of life funeral service will be Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 10 a.m. at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St., Champaign, with the Rev. Ricky Spindler officiating. Interment will be in Mount Olive Cemetery, Mayview.Bev was born Nov 23, 1933, to Angelo and Alberta (Bernhardt) LaRose in West New York, N.J. She married William P. (Bill) Cotter on Sept. 14, 1957, in Paramus, N.J.Bev is survived by her children, Deborah (Steven Heater) of Urbana, Carol (Mathis) of Champaign, William P. (Suzanne) of Waveland, Miss., and Thomas (Kristie) of Greeley, Colo.; 12 grandchildren, Theresa, Kimberly, Amanda (Lyndon Headley) and Christopher Heater (Tami), Thomas (Kristen), Jeffrey (Tracey), Paige (Mike Irvin) and Megan Mathis, Nicholas (Adrianne), Melissa (Jeremy Bell) and William Cotter (Courtney) and Christian Cotter; and 15 great-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and brother, Patrick.Bev spent the early years of her marriage raising her four children, was a Girl Scout leader, a St. Matthew Church member and enjoyed bowling. She worked at the Department of Mental Health.Bev was an avid Master Gardener and member of the Pond Club and Hosta Society. Her love of gardening put her home on the 2012 Garden Walk. Bev was the true matriarch of the family, and her legacy will carry on.In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, donations in memory of Bev Cotter may be made to Transitions Hospice, 201 N. Randolph St., Champaign, IL 61820, or the Illinois Prairie Hosta Society, 1819 Coventry Drive, Champaign, IL 61822. Condolences may be offered at owensfuneralhomes.com.