Ann Christine Fumagalli

Ann Christine Fumagalli (nee Tusek) 86, of Plainfield, Illinois passed away peacefully at home on February 29, 2012 with her loving family by her side. She was born to the late Marko and Helen (Brenc) Tusek and was a life long resident of Joliet until recently moving to Plainfield,IL. She graduated in 1944 from St. Francis Academy High School in Joliet.

Ann is survived by her seven devoted children and her sons and daughter-in-law: Margaret Ann Peggy (Robert) Craven, Mark (Maureen Kirkpatrick) Fumagalli, Marilyn Fumagalli, Ann Marie (David) Nelson, Susan (Robert) Catalano, Louis (Kathleen Scully) Fumagalli and Helen (James) Begeske.

She will be dearly missed by her ten grandchildren and their spouses, Matthew (Mina Moradi) Fumagalli, Terrence Joseph (Susan Markun) Gruber, JulieAnn (Nelson) (Steven Blake) Troutman, Michael (Kristen Frederick) Fumagalli, Lisa Fumagalli, David Alex Nelson, Robert Begeske, Michael Nelson, Laura Begeske and Thomas Fumagalli; and step-grandchildren, Brian (Kim) Catalano, Amy (Scott) Goodale, Craig (Maureen) Catalano; and her five cherished legacy of great-grandchildren Jameson Patrick Fumagalli, Alexander Joseph and Benjamin Terrence Gruber, Colin David Troutman and Gabriel Anson Fumagelli. Ann is also survived by her sister, Genevieve (Tusek) (late William) Getson and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her parents, Ann was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Leonard J. Fumagalli (November, 2011) two sisters Helen Tusek and Theresa Tusek (Edward) Mihelic, and a step-granddaughter, Dana (nee Catalano) Kussman.

Ann rejoined the workforce after raising her seven children and secured a position as a secretary for the principal of Eliza Kelly School, then later as the secretary for the Superintendent of School District 86. She retired from Economics Laboratory (EcoLab) in 1988.

Ann was an active member of the Ladies of Columbus #382. The Joannites and the Ladies Altar and Roasary Society at St. Mary Nativity Church, and a volunteer at Shepherd's Table Soup Kitchen. A favorite family story is the re-telling of how Ann's parents met. After emigrating from Yugoslavia in 1919, Ann's mother, Helen Brenc joined St. Mary Nativity Croatian Church 13 years after its founding in 1906. She lived nearby on Broadway Street with her sister's family and when walking home from Church one Sunday morning, she was ""chased"" by her future husband, Marko Tusek who was looking for a ""nice Croatian girl"" to marry. Much of the family history is framed withhin the walls of the church and school with weddings, baptisms and funerals. Every so often, a long-time parishinoner will comment that they still remember seeing all seven of Ann and Len's children lined-up in the front pew of the church attending Mass dressed in their Sunday finest.

Ann will be remembered as a fun-loving mother and grandmother who always made birthdays and holidays special with her homemade cakes, after-school-treats of handmade donuts, cupcakes and cookies and most of all, spectacular gingerbread houses at Christmastime.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Ann C. Fumagalli will be celebrated on Saturday March 3, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Nativity Catholic Church. Inurnment will follow at St. Mary Nativity Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends at the church Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. until time of services. In lieu of flowers, donations will be appreciated in Ann's name to : Joliet Area Community Hospice.