Rena Sanders, 84, of Woodlawn, passed away at 1:35 a.m., Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at her home.
She was born August 13, 1941, in Dunmor, Kentucky, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Melhiser) Coleman.
Rena is survived by her four children, Roger Sanders and Mary Jo (Henson) Sanders of Cedar Hill, Tennessee, Lisa Sanders and Nate Bucklin of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Linda (Sanders) Blauvelt and Dan Blauvelt of Fair Grove, Missouri, and Dee “Birdie” Deanna Sanders and Jaime Tolbert of Marion, Illinois; her much-loved grandchildren, Joshua and Danielle Sanders, Amy and Matt Odom, Benjamin Cox, Cameron Crews, Cody Crews, Carter Crews, Trevor Sanders, KayLee Sanders and Cooper Tolbert; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Bettye Miller; special sister-in-law and dear friend, Dessie Sanders; and many nieces and nephews.
Rena was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Dwight Sanders; parents, Henry and Mary Coleman; two brothers, Kenneth Coleman and Jimmy Coleman; and sister, Helen (Coleman) Arnold.
Rena faithfully attended Central Christian Church in Mt Vernon, Illinois, with her husband, Dwight. She was a graduate of Woodlawn High School, and enjoyed flower gardening and koi fish ponds.
Funeral services for Mrs. Sanders will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 16th, 2026, at Osborn Funeral Home in Dix, Illinois, with Pastor Jon Henninger and Pastor James McKenzie officiating. Burial will follow at New Shiloh Cemetery. Visitation will be held Saturday, May 16th, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. (noon) until the hour of service, at the funeral home. Memorial gifts may be made to Central Christian Church Kid Depot, and will be accepted at the service, or by mail to the Osborn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 130, Dix, Illinois 62830. Online condolences may be made at www.osbornfuneral.com, or on the Osborn Funeral Home Facebook page