ALETA MARIE (McFADDEN) LAUGHLIN, 76, formerly of Charleston, died Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at her home in St. Charles.

She was born December 14, 1943, in Cairo, IL, to the late Emmett Keith McFadden and Frances Marie (Council) McFadden. Aleta, which means 'little winged one', was raised in Charleston as the middle of three kids and as a member of the First Baptist Church. Miss Faris was her favorite grade school and Sunday school teacher. Growing up, Aleta enjoyed hanging out with her older brother and playing with her Fox cousins. Despite her small stature, Aleta participated in intramural pole vaulting. A 1961 graduate of Charleston High School, she was involved in the glee club and inducted into the National Honor Society. Following a brief time of employment with the FBI in Washington, D.C., Aleta married and settled in the St. Louis region where she started her most rewarding career, as a mother and homemaker, often driving around in her prized powder blue VW Beetle. She later re-entered the workforce as an office clerk, then found her second favorite career as a cashier with 9-0-5 liquor, Garavelli's Restaurant, and ultimately retiring from Shop 'N Save in 2006. Aleta enjoyed discussing politics, reading, needlecraft, cooking, antique shopping and spending time with her kids and grandkids.

Surviving are her son, Kevin Laughlin of St. Louis; daughter, Carrie Rudberg of St. Charles; grandchildren, Jon (Ashley) Alspaw, Greg (Sarah) Rudberg, Kevin Rudberg and Kyle Rudberg; also, five great granddaughters. Additional survivors include her brothers, Glennon (Nora) McFadden of Newburgh, IN and Bill McFadden of St. Louis; aunt, Marchie Ann (Andy) Bram of St. Louis; uncle, Rudy Hausmann of Mesa, AZ; as well as two nephews and many cousins.

In addition to her parents, Aleta was preceded in death by cousin, Sandy Vago and eight aunts and uncles.

Services are scheduled in Charleston for Friday, May 8 ^th with a private viewing at 1:00pm followed by an open graveside service at 2:00pm at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery just north of town. Interment will follow under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home.  Pastor Barry Ivie of O'Fallon, MO, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to fight Domestic Violence through Bridgeway, 118 North Second Street, Suite 200, St. Charles, MO 63301 ( www.bridgewaybh.com/donate/ ). Aleta's children will be matching donations up to $1,000.