Rhea Britton, 74 of Aurora, formerly of Joy, Illinois, died Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Silvercross Nursing Home, Rock Island. Funeral Services will be 4 p.m., Thursday, April 16, at Speer Funeral Home, Aledo, with visitation prior to services beginning at 2:30 p.m. Private burial will be in Peniel Cemetery, Joy. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Joy United Methodist Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, or the VCA Aurora Animal Hospital.
Rhea was born on June 3, 1951, in Aledo, Illinois, to Robert Arthur and Druzilla “Madge” (Steele) Britton. She graduated from Aledo High School, class of 1970, and with a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Western Illinois University.
Rhea spent 23 years as a safety inspector for OSHA, before retiring in 2002. Retirement didn’t last long, as she went on to substitute for the West Aurora School District for 11 years. Rhea enjoyed staying busy in her spare time. She and her mother were “Busy Bees” in the craft circle. She enjoyed knitting and lapidary jewelry. She was also a member of Women of the Moose, the Bachelors & Bachelorettes Square Dancing Club, and the Elgin Rock Club. She served as a delegate to the Metropolitan Chicagoland Association of Square Dancers and was on the board for the Chicagoland Gem and Mineral Association.
Rhea cherished her church family at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Aurora where she enjoyed Sunday school and bible study, and loved to help with the giving tree every Christmas. Rhea also loved to rescue and adopt cats. Her last cat, Stan, was her best friend and snuggle buddy.
Those left to cherish Rhea’s memory includer her mother, Madge Britton; siblings, Mary Adams of Moline and Robert and Sindy Britton of Joy; and nieces and nephews and families, Brandon and Brooke Adams and children, Drake and Reid, Nathan and Freda Adams and children, Griffin, Devin (Ellie), Gavin, and Lakin, Melissa Sorrowfree and children, Drucilla and Keegan, Jessica and Eric Wetherly and children, Somera and Blake, Felicia and Alex Adams and children, Katelyn, Danica, and Jacoby, and Barbara and Eric Tracy and children, Robbie and Draven. Rhea was preceded in death by her father.