Penny Diane Carpenter

Penny Norfleet Carpenter passed quietly on to her new life on Saturday, September 10th at approximately 7:30 p.m. at her home in Monticello after a heroic battle against her cancer. She was born November 14, 1958 to parents, Ed and Betty Norfleet of Monticello. She lost her mother in 2006. She is survived by her husband, Phil, daughter Ellie, her father, Ed Norfleet, and brothers Paul (Patty) of Atwood, and Phil (Jill) Norfleet of Monticello as well as several special nieces and nephews. Penny was most recently employed at the University of Illinois in Urbana.
She and her husband Phil operated a travel agency in Branson, Missouri before moving to Illinois
where their daughter, Ellie, was born. For several years Penny organized and conducted numerous bus tours throughout the United States and overseas under her own local company she named Ten Percent Tours. She loved having daughter Ellie with her on most of the trips, both in this country and abroad. They made a good team and shared many wonderful memories of happy times together on those trips.
Penny is well known to numerous foreign exchange students and host families in the area in her capacity as Area Coordinator for the CIEE Student Exchange Program of the U. S. State Department.
Penny will be remembered for her great love for her family, for her delightful sense of humor and for her indomitable spirit. She loved people and made lasting friendships wherever she went.
Her family wishes to express great appreciation for the many delicious meals and other kind expressions of caring they have received during Pennys lengthy illness. Everything was very helpful.
A Celebration of Pennys Life is planned for Friday September 16, 2011 with a reception at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Lounge of the Monticello United Methodist Church, followed by a Service of Remembrances at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Guests are encouraged to come prepared with a special memory, poem or reading, or tell a funny story about Penny to share! In lieu of flowers the family has suggested that gifts may be donated to the charity of the donors choice. Pennys friends have established an education account for her daughter, Ellie, at First State Bank of Monticello as well as First State Bank of Champaign.

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