Rona D. Purpura, age 92, a resident of Wheaton, passed away on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. She was born July 27, 1930 in Jamaica, Iowa to Earl & Hattie Scheib.

Rona grew up on a farm in Jamaica, Iowa and moved to Perry, Iowa where she graduated from Perry High School. She attended the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and received her undergraduate & graduate degrees in music & music education. Rona taught fourth grade at Park View School in Lombard for 23 years. In retirement, Rona worked in leadership positions for the Illinois Retired Teacher's Association, both locally and statewide.

She enjoyed gourmet cooking and loved to share her recipes with her friends and relatives. She set a beautiful table for her guests.

She is survived by her husband for 66 years, Joe Purpura; her children Valerie (Brian) Charlesworth, Gia (Dan) Burns, and Orlando (Linda) Purpura; and her three grandchildren: Ashley Charlesworth, Helen Burns, and Daniel Burns.

She was preceded in death by her siblings: Max, Robert, Durwood & Marilyn.

A visitation will be held Monday, November 28, 2022 from 10-11am at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187, where funeral service will be held at 11am. Interment will be held at Yale Cemetery in Yale, Iowa.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Illinois Retired Teacher's Association , 828 S. 2nd Street, Springfield, IL 62704 & National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation , P.O. Box 1848 Longmont, CO 80502.