Lorraine Mary Nehart

“WHEN A LOVED ONE BECOMES A MEMORY, THAT MEMORY BECOMES A TREASURE.” Lorraine M. Nehart, 89, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 @ Sandwich Rehab & Health Care Center with her daughter Sharon and son-in-law Tony by her side. She was born September 12, 1927 in Berwyn, the daughter of James and Mae (Kovarik) Jirik. As a young woman she resided in Cicero, and graduated from Morton High School. She began raising her family in Cicero and later in Morton Grove where she was employed as a journalist for The Morton Grove Champion. She then moved to St. Charles and later returned to Cicero to live with her Mother. She was employed as a secretary in the Cardiology Dept. @ Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for 20 years prior to her retirement in 1997. In later years she lived in Huntley with daughter Nancy, son-in-law Frank and family, and then moved to Heritage Woods in DeKalb. She became a resident @ Sandwich Rehabilitation & Health Care Center in 2013. Lorraine was a proud member through the last days of her life of the Morton Grove American Legion Post #134 Auxiliary which she joined in 1960. She served 2 terms as President and held the offices of Secretary, Publicity Director and Historian several times. She attended many conventions at the State and National levels where she won numerous awards for her History Writing and Publicity Scrapbooks. She enjoyed going everywhere and anywhere travelling from Hawaii to Washington D.C.to Disney World, Florida; to plays, the Sandwich Fair, concerts, and of course family parties! She loved playing BINGO, was thrilled about being chosen as Queen on her first Valentine’s Day @ SW Rehab and had a long life love affair with chocolate milkshakes and McDonald’s. Although her vision was declining, she could recognize people by their voice and loved to visit with them. She maintained her love of writing by corresponding with letters and cards to family and friends. Her prize possession was her Talking Time Telling Watch. For those that knew Lorraine, you know she did not like to cook or really do very well, which she would laughingly admit. Humorous memories include the frozen peas in a box incident, the metal pan in the microwave and a favorite Friday night fish sticks, peas and/or macaroni & cheese meal. (None of us children eat fish sticks to this day). So how ironic it was that she was being read crazy & outlandish recipes when she drew in her last breath. Celebrating her life are her daughters, Loral Hahn of Apopka, FL, Sharon (Tony) Pagoria of Sandwich, IL, Nancy (Frank) Rubino of Huntley, IL, and son, William Nehart of Apple Valley, MN; her grandchildren, Jeremy, Jackii, Maegan, Kristofer, CarLeigh, Danny, Emily, Tasha, Natalie and her 10 great-grandchildren. She was excited to be able to recently attend the gender reveal party for her next great-grandson due in June. Loved ones who will miss Lorraine until they meet again are her very special cousin Arlene Jerstad of Brookfield, her best friend from grammar school, Joan Barth of Warrenville and her 2 Legion friends Terry Selzer of Morton Grove and Fran Perschon of Chicago, as well as, her many friends @ SW Rehab Center. Welcoming her in heaven are her father and mother, her brother Richard Jirik and two grandsons, John Coyne and Jason Pagoria. Lorraine’s family would like to especially thank the caring staff at Sandwich Rehab Center and Guiding Light Hospice and everyone who contributed prayers during her last days. Her wishes were for no services, so instead of flowers, the family wishes that you would do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for some person in her name or call a loved one you have not spoken to in a long time. Memorials in her name may be directed to the Morton Grove American Legion Post #134 Auxiliary Service Fund for assistance with the Veterans at Jesse Brown and Hines VA Hospitals (c/o 6144 Dempster St., Morton Grove, IL 60053).