It is with heavy hearts that our family announces the passing of our mother, Arta Phoebe Hayes on October 27, 2026 at the age of 88. She was born on February 23, 1938. She worked as a telephone operator at Ohio Bell in Barnesville, Ohio. She married our father, Larry Hayes on August 28, 1961. They moved to Kankakee, Illinois, where dad was teaching in Bourbonnais, Illinois. They moved to Wheaton, Illinois in 1970 when dad took a teaching job at York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. Mom worked for Montgomery Wards for about 5 years and then for the Oak Brook Bank in Oak Brook, Illinois – until her diagnosis (and survival) of breast cancer in 1980.

Arta graduated from Barnesville, Ohio and was a majorette. She graduated in the class of 1956. She had a large group of friends in high school that she kept in touch with throughout her life.

Arta was preceded in death by her mother and father – Rachel and Arthur Hunkler and two brothers Frederick (Ted) Hunkler and Rodney (Rod) Hunkler.

She was an avid reader and loved sudoku puzzles, taking care of her home of 56 years, meeting with close friends at Panera and walking everyday with dad. She also loved spending time with her kids, Regena (Gena), Aaron & Michele and Derek – going shopping and out to lunch.

Services will be private.