Rebecca Dudas

WASHINGTON-Rebecca A. Dudas, 56, of Washington passed away unexpectedly, Saturday, January 14, 2017, in the Emergency room of OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. She was born on October 5, 1960 in Peoria the daughter of Robert and Patsy Welch Dudas. Surviving is her mother of Washington and her siblings Romona (Gary) Soppe of Palm Coast, FL; Stephen Dudas of Washington, IL and Douglas (Wanda) Dudas of East Peoria. Her father preceded her in death. Becky was a registered nurse for 30 years at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, last working in Neonatal Intensive Care. She worked as a Charge Nurse, bedside nurse, but her true passion was as a Neonatal Transport Nurse. She pioneered appropriate developmental care for all premature babies. Becky was the first nationally Certified Neonatal Nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. Becky volunteered with the local adult literacy program. She was active with St. Jude and numerous children's charities. Becky enjoyed travel, movies, books, music, and theater. She wrote short stories and was published. Becky was a prize winning photographer and combined needlepoint with her photography. She was hands down the best trivia partner you could ever have. Becky offered the best to the world; she was generous with friends and kind to strangers. She enjoyed discovering the best restaurants in the entire tristate area and actually wrote a monthly column for the Neonatal Intensive Care newsletter describing her finds. If you were ready for an adventure, Becky would always be willing to take you exploring. Funeral services will be 11am, Friday, January 20, 2017 at Mason-White Funeral Home in Washington. Rev. Dick Hanson will officiate. Visitation will be one-hour prior to her service. Cremation rites will follow her service. In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be given to Rosewood Care in East Peoria or North Tazewell Fire and Rescue. To share notes of condolences with the family, visit www.masonfuneralhomes.com.