11/18/2025
Howe and Yockey Funeral Homes, Ltd.
415 N. Broadway
Shelbyville, IL 62565
217/774-3931
Andra Lee Benz
Formerly of Shelbyville, IL
Andra Lee McDonald Beard White Benz (Nipper), 75, of Illiopolis walked right into her daddy's arms in God's beautiful kingdom of eternal life at 4:14pm Nov. 12th, 2025, at Decatur Memorial Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Our hearts are shattered as she was the rock of our family.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, 415 N. Broadway, Shelbyville, IL62565, Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. – noon on Wednesday in the funeral home. The family suggests that memorials be made to helping others in need.
Andra was born May 29th, 1950, in Shelbyville Illinois, the only child of Herbert and Opal (Peggy) Neal McDonald. Andra married Richard Beard on June 16th, 1969, and together they had 2 beautiful baby boys, Toby and Todd, and they were the light of her life. Andra and Richard later divorced. On Dec. 23rd, 1999, Andra married Nicholas White and he preceded her in death. On April 24th, 2004, Andra married the love of her life Bernard Francis Benz II and he survives her. Andra attended Shelbyville High School and was still very close with all her surviving classmates. Andra knew no stranger. She was a beautiful soul. If you ever met her, she would always welcome you with loving arms and she always felt like home for anybody. She was always a voice of reason and would always remind everybody of "The golden rule" All of her kid's/grandkid's friends would call her mom, memaw or granny and when anybody would go to say bye to her, after visiting with her, she would always give you the "memaw wave". In her lifetime, she had worked as a waitress, bartender, caregiver, school bus driver, and at DEI. She also earned a certificate in welding from Lake Land College. She was also a wonderful photographer, until her RA wouldn't allow her to be able to hold the camera anymore. She was a very musical person, she was always singing something, and she loved to sing to you or with you. She loved to entertain. She was a collector of many things, she loved her Betty Boop, her frogs, her dolls, and also bears. Her favorite thing to do was to spend time with her family and friends, she loved each and every one of you dearly.
In addition to her husband, Andra is also survived by her children: Toby (Patricia) Beard and Todd (Stephanie) Beard
Stepchildren: Kevin Kosek Benz, Casey (Brittany) Kosek Benz, Kristina (Brad) King, Mercedes Benz, Bernadette Benz, and Bernard (Rea Lykka) Benz III
Grandchildren: Alaihasha Beard, Tyler Beard, Deven Beard, Vincent (Jay) Beard, and Ocean Beard (fiancé Tommy Cicardo); Step grandchildren: Christian Rosati, Christopher Johnson, Aurabell King, Brookelynn Kosek, Ameren Kosek, Kashmir Benz, Otto Benz, Ariana Shores, Madison Craw, and Bernard Benz IV, one great grandchild Luna Rosati, Stepsister Jean (Kerry) Hudson and Stepbrother Mike (Robin) Bear. Andra is also survived by her close cousins Alexandrea (Brett) Reed, Terri Conyers and their children and her best friend Pammie Thomas. In addition to her parents, and Nicky, Andra was preceded in death by her stepmother Mary Jane McDonald, her cousin that was like a sister Sherry (Shed) Hubbartt, Jerry (Jed) Hubbartt, Perry (Ped) Hubbartt, and step- grandson Gunnar Kosek.
Andra will forever be sadly missed by her husband, family, friends, her dog Sophie and her kitty Pippy. We all love her to the moon and back and a bushel and a peck.
