Rhea Hayden

Rhea (Voorheis) Hayden, 90, of Robinson, Illinois, passed away on January 1, 2024 at Arbor Rose Memory Care. She was surrounded by family. Preceding her in death are her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is survived by her brother, Jim Voorheis, husband Joe Hayden, children Steve Hayden, Vicky Hayden, and Lori Treadway, Debby Hayden, Grandchildren Michelle Brown, Susy (Jamie) Hoben, Amy (Erin) Sikorski, Jessica (Samuel) Collins, C.J. (Alissa) Daugherty, Hayden, Henry, and Edy Treadway, great-grandchildren Jack Brown, Callie and Colt Collins, and Charlotte Sikorski.

Rhea was born on October 13, 1933 to Ray and Edna (Brenton) Voorheis in Hutsonville, Illinois. Rhea was raised on a corn and hog farm there, where she learned the value of hard work. This included riding on the planter and pulling the lever to drop the corn in the furrow, while her dad pulled it with the tractor. She also spent a considerable amount of time chasing the pigs back into the pigpen. A graduate of Hutsonville High School in 1951, Rhea took Latin and stenography, both subjects that prepared her for her first job. Upon graduation, she went to work in Robinson for Dick Eagleton, state's attorney. She was able to "commute" to Robinson by getting rides from neighbor Fred Norton.

On January 19, 1952 Rhea married Joe Hayden and changed his life forever. As they were walking through the halls of the courthouse to the county clerk's office to get their marriage license, they almost had Judge Hanby Jones and Dick Eagleton following along behind them with a shotgun. The would-be pranksters thought the better of it, in case it really was a "shotgun wedding."

The couple set up housekeeping in Robinson. When son Steve was born in 1953, Rhea became a stay at home mom. During the next few years, Rhea and Joe built their first, one-bedroom house by hand, bringing baby Steve along in his bassinet while they did finish work. Sister Vicky was born in 1955, and Lori arrived in 1969.

As their first major investment, Rhea and Joe bought Dave Abel's Glass in 1974, and it became Hayden Glass and Steel. Rhea ran the office and handled all accounting and bookkeeping while Joe handled the rest of the glass and steel work. They ran the business until their retirement in 1986. Always productive, Rhea worked in a construction contractor's office during her retirement, and helped out with tax time for Harold McCormick.

Rhea had many friends and interests. She met for coffee with the Hardee's group 6 days a week. She was a member of Business and Professional Women, Home Extension, and Investment Club, and helped organize Relay for Life. She and Joe took many trips, and they traveled to all 50 states by car, camper, plane, ship, rail, and motorhome. Rhea also toured Europe, and enjoyed every trip she took. She was an avid Cardinals and Illini fan, and had a large collection of Snoopy memorabilia. Always styled to the nines, Rhea loved shoes and fashion.

Rhea was the true matriarch and role model for the family. She loved her family and always knew and did what was best for each of them. Fun and witty, you always knew where you stood with her. Although she struggled with dementia in recent years, she never gave up, and stayed tough and dignified until the end. Joe and Rhea's deep, enduring love for each other is a rare and beautiful thing that has lasted over 71 years. She will be missed by all who knew her.

A time of visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 4th, at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson. Another time of visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 5th, at the funeral home, with funeral services immediately following at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Terry Evans will officiate. For those unable to attend, a live stream of the service will be available at www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/live-stream/live-stream .

Memorial donations may be made to the "NOW Program", which sends supplemental food home with local students on weekends. Memorial envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Kirk Cemetery, rural Robinson.