Fontella Jeanette Waddell, age 90

June 11, 1935 – December 27, 2025

Fontella Waddell, age 90, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 7:11AM-Saturday, December 27, 2025, at HSHS St. Anthony Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Illinois, surrounded by the love of her family.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM- Thursday, January 1, 2026, at the First Baptist Church, Washington Street, Newton, Illinois with Anthony Harris officiating.  Visitation will be held 2 hours prior to the service (12:00-2:00 PM) at the church.  Burial will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Newton, Illinois.  In loving memory of Fontella, memorials may be made to the Jasper County Senior Citizen Center or Jasper County Cancer Support Group.  The obituary can be viewed and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com.

Fontella Jeanette Waddell was born on June 11, 1935, in West Salem, Illinois, the daughter of Thomas and Myrtle (Blakney) Jackson.  She attended Olney High School, graduating with the class of 1953.  Fontella married Jack Waddell, Sr., on December 24, 1953, they enjoyed 49 wonderful and active years together, until his passing on May 12, 2003.

A lifelong entrepreneur and dedicated community servant, Fontella began working with Jack at the original Dog n Suds in Newton, Illinois. Their passion for business and community growth led them to own a teen center and a small department store on the west side of the square. She and Jack later built and owned the Burger Bar and the West 33 Shopping Center on West Jourdan Street (now the Senior Center). Never one to stop, They later renovated the shopping center into the Oak Room Cafeteria and Billiard Room.

Her culinary and business ventures extended throughout the area, including owning Aducci's Pizza in Greenup, Illinois and finally the Waddell Family Restaurant on the southeast corner of the square in Charleston, Illinois. Beyond her businesses, she found great joy in the equestrian world as an owner of harness racehorses.

After retiring from the restaurant industry, Fontella and Jack moved to Lake Mattoon, near Neoga, where she served as the Volunteer Coordinator at Heartland Christian Village. She was a woman of deep faith, serving as a member of the First Christian Church in Neoga before returning to Newton in 2020. Upon her return, she renewed her involvement with the First Baptist Church of Newton.

Fontella was an active community member, serving as a member and Past President of the Newton Business and Professional Women's (BPW) club and the Junior Women's Club. She also dedicated her time as a Girl Scout Leader. Her spirit of service continued through her volunteer work at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital. After working in the gift shop, she continued her service sewing handmade teddy bears for children entering the hospital—handcrafting hundreds of bears over the years.

Fontella is survived by-

Children- Jeanette Hickox of Newton, Illinois and Jack "Jay" Waddell, Jr. and his wife Michelle of Perrysburg, Ohio

Grandchildren- Jessica (Travis) Hall of Newton, Illinois; Kayla (Josh) Ritzel of Port Orange, Florida; Amanda (Jeremiah) Bear of Sullivan, Illinois; Veronica (Brandon) Simpson of Marshall, Illinois; Ian Waddell of Toledo, Ohio; Alex Waddell of Columbus, Ohio and Landon Waddell of Columbus, Ohio

Great-Grandchildren- Jessilyn, Jailyn, Jenna, Jaclyn and Tretyn Hall; Natalee, Levi, Malachi and Oliver Ritzel; Amalie, Riane and Lyla Bear; Layka, Larkyn, Lakreigh and Loktyn Simpson

Fontella was preceded in passing by her parents, siblings Floella Gwilliam, Janis Ellison, June Rubalcobba and Donovan Jackson, and son-in-law Donald Hickox.