Beverly Hart

Beverly Ann Hart, 68, of Wenona passed away peacefully on December 20 at the Addington Hospice Unit of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, surrounded by her loving family.
A visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Sunday, December 27 at Hagi Funeral Home in Streator.  The funeral service will commence at 11:00 AM on Monday at Hagi, followed by a burial in Riverview Cemetery.
Beverly was born on September 7, 1947 in Streator, the daughter of Albert and Verda Barke.  She married Henry Hart on November 24, 1967.  Preceding her in death were her parents.  She is survived by her husband; two sons – George (Amber) Hart of Charlotte, NC and Paul Hart of Boca Raton, FL; two brothers – Randy and Gary Barke; one sister – Nancy Decker; three grandchildren – Jude, Edie, and Finn.
Beverly was a graduate of Wenona High School and Illinois State University, where she earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree with high honors.  She was an English, Latin, and American Studies teacher at Flanagan-Cornell High School for 45 years before retiring in 2013, and was Assistant Principal since 2007.  Retirement did not last long, as Beverly went back to Flanagan on a part-time basis to teach two dual-credit English Composition as an adjunct faculty member at Illinois Central College.
She was named a Governor Thompson Master Teacher winner in 1984.  Beverly was twice named Voice of Democracy Teacher of the Year for the State of Illinois, in 2000 and 2009.  She earned the profession’s top honor in 2004 when she became National Board Certified.  According to former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, “Teachers who earn this distinction represent the gold standard and are the most effective teachers in our nation’s classrooms today.”  Beverly was also a finalist for the Illinois Teacher of the Year Award, and was nominated multiple times for the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.  She earned a strong reputation for successfully incorporating her travels across the US and Europe into her classroom.  Beverly served on the Wenona and Fieldcrest Boards of Education from 1985-1992and 1992-1997, respectively.  She was alsoa member of the Pontiac VFW Post 886 Ladies Auxiliary.
Outside of teaching, Beverly’s passions were traveling, British royalty, antiquing, writing, andher grandchildren.  She and Henry opened a Victorian-style bed and breakfast in Wenona in 1987.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Flanagan-Cornell High School for the Beverly Hart Memorial Scholarship, 202 E. Falcon Highway, Flanagan, IL 61740.