Knova Lea Xanders, 91 of Fairfield, Illinois was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Knova was born on June 8, 1934, in Henning, Illinois to Glenan and Ethel (Cash) Staton. She and her husband, George Xanders, Jr., married on May 8, 1951, in Paragould, Arkansas, and celebrated 74 wedding anniversaries together. Knova was a dedicated homemaker who kept busy caring for the family. She assisted in Dr. Garrison’s dental office, and many will remember her days at Red & White grocery store. A member of the Fairfield First Baptist Church, she was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who will be dearly missed by her family.
Knova is survived by her husband, George Jr., four children—Connie Xanders (Fairfield), Renee’ Xanders Russell (Henderson, KY), Alan (Jill) Xanders (Fairfield), and George (Valerie) Xanders III (Mt. Vernon, IL)—her twin brother, Dr. Knofel (Sandy) Staton (Yuma, AZ), and her sister, Phyllis Christy (Fairfield).
Nine grandchildren survive: Raychel O’Dell Simms, Ryan Livingston, Dustin Ewing, LeaAnn Xanders Hungerford, Michael Xanders, Alex Russell, Zach Xanders, Zane Xanders, Wade Xanders. Additionally, eleven great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchild, and a very special caregiver, Retha Easton, also survive.
Preceding her in death were her parents, toddler brother “Little Buster” Staton, a sister Ima Jean Hart, and two great grandchildren, Alyse and Elijah Hungerford.
Funeral services for Knova L. Xanders will be at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Nale’s Funeral Home in Fairfield with visitation from 10 a.m. until service time. Burial will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery in Fairfield.
Memorial donations may be given to Shriners Children’s Hospital or Alzheimer’s Association and will be accepted at Nale’s Funeral Home.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be left for the family at www.nalesfuneralhome.com.
Nale’s Funeral Home is honored to serve and support the Xanders family.
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