Obit: Jane Illich, Lake Forest Resident for Nearly 8 Decades

The following obituary is courtesy of Wenban Funeral Home:

Jane Illich, 93, passed away Tuesday afternoon, October 1, 2013 at Condell Hospital in Libertyville, Illinois. She was born October 13, 1919, in Evanston, Illinois to Martha and William Stevens.

The family moved to Lake Forest, Illinois in 1928. She had been a resident of Lake Forest for close to eighty years. She graduated from Lake Forest High school in 1938 and graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

During World War II, as part of the war effort, she and her mother housed sailors and their families in their Lake Forest home, as there wasn't enough room on the navy base during that time.

In the spring of 1948, she married her high school classmate, George M. Illich, Jr. During her lifetime, as well as raising 5 children, she was an active volunteer at Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest. She also shared her artistic talents as a portrait artist at the church's annual spring fair.

She and her family spent summers in their northern Wisconsin home, which was her greatest source of joy.

Jane was known for her kindness, as well as her giving and selfless nature. She enjoyed reading, drawing and the outdoors. On weekends in the winter months, for many years, she volunteered as an Auxiliary Patroller as part of the National Ski Patrol at Wilmot Ski Hills in southern Wisconsin.

Loving survivors include two daughters, Jeanne (Tony) Sposito of Waukegan Illinois and Helen (Robert) Towner of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; as well as two sons, Stephen (Virginia) Illich of Crystal Lake, Illinois and James Illich of Skokie, Illinois. Her surviving grandchildren include Theodore Towner, Seth Illich and Scott Illich. She is also survived by her younger sister, Martha Daly of Sarasota, Florida. Jane was preceded in death by her husband, George and youngest daughter, Elizabeth; as well as her parents and older brother Billy, who died as a young child.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 11, 2013 at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 400 E. Westminster, Lake Forest, IL. No visitation. Interment will be private. Memorial gifts may be made to the Northwoods Land Trust, P.O. Box 321, Eagle River, WI 54521-0321.

For service info. www.wenbanfh.com or (847) 234-0022.