Lena S. Daugherty's Obituary
DECATUR – Stefana “Lena” Lazzaroni Daugherty, of Decatur, passed
away on 22 December, at Decatur Memorial Hospital, after a loving and happy life with her family and friends. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. in St. James Catholic Church, with visitation one hour prior to the Mass of Christian Burial.
Always reluctant to reveal her age, Lena was born on 30 November, in the year of our Lord, MCMXIII, in the southern Illinois town of Panama. Her parents were Giacomo Lazzaroni and Angelina Degani Lazzaroni, long residents of the tiny Alpine village of Loveno, Italy.
Her father migrated to the United States to work in the southern Illinois coal mines in 1909, sending for his wife and Lena’s sister shortly thereafter. Giacomo and Angelina were blessed with three children in Italy. The first son Lazarus would pass away at 7 years of age in 1907, and later another Lazarus would not survive his birth, but his twin sister Stefana would accompany her mother to America. Tragically, the grueling trip across the sea took it’s toll, and she passed away in July, 1913. Lena was born in Panama, Illinois, the following November. A younger brother Lazarus was born in 1915, and lived to the age of 38, while his sister would continue the family for another 45 years. Angelina, her mother, lived to the age of 70 (1946) while her father, Giacomo, lived another 10 years beyond that. His last year was spent with Lena and her loving husband Bob, in Decatur. As a child, Lena spoke only Italian until the necessity of learning English in school prepared her for the greater world. She ultimately would leave Panama for Chicago where she worked as a domestic, then eventually to Decatur where she attended Brown’s Business College. Along the way, she met and fell in love with Edward F. “Bob” Daugherty of Decatur, who worked for the railroad, and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy in W.W. II. Their love and marriage was blessed with two daughters, Mary Leeann and Kathryn Lee. Tragically, Bob would pass away in 1967, leaving Lena, Leeann and Kathy to continue on.
Lena spent most of her adult career as the head bookkeeper for the Irish-Behnke Insurance Company where she gained the skills and love for numbers that were her trademark. Even late in life with this propensity for figures, she could quote gas prices around town, and understand financial news in the world of taxes and interest rates. Being determined and always in charge of her situation, especially after the passing of her husband, Lena learned to drive later in life and continued to navigate her little Chevy Cavalier through her 100th year. Her attention to local grocery ads, and her frugal buying habits, were reflected nicely in her always balancing her checkbook down to the penny. Her life was rich in many ways, not the least of which were the many hours of enjoyment with her children and grandchildren who knew her as “Nonna”. And while she often doubted that she would ever see her beloved Cubs win the World Series, she was on top of their relative fortunes during the baseball seasons, as well as following the Illini basketball games. All of her family was alert to and humored by her “Nonna-isms”, malapropisms that at first would draw stares, then chuckles as her meanings became apparent. She was a longtime member of St. James Catholic Church, and never retired in the evenings without having said her rosary.
She is survived by her two daughters and their families,Mary Leeann Grossman (Franz) of Decatur, and Kathryn Lee Ryan (Joe Hartwig) of Winter Springs, Fla. Grandchildren Matthew Robert Grossman of Decatur and Nicholas Josef Grossman of Carbondale, Kari Kathryn Ryan of Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Michael Francis Ryan (Taryn Spencer) of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Great grandchildren, Alaina Ann and Benjamin Matthew Grossman of Decatur, and Conner James Furr of Cape Canaveral, Florida. She was preceded in death by her husband Edward Fenton “Bob” Daugherty, and great grandchild Jacob Lynn Grossman.
Special thanks should be given for the 43 years of accommodation given to her by the staff of Timber Cove Apartments, the professional and devoted care from her family doctor, William Franklin and his staff, the very special care she received from the dedicated and professional staffs at Hickory Point Christian Village and Decatur Memorial Hospital, as well as the personal and spiritual care received from the Reverend Father John C. Burnette, Pastor of Ss. James and Patrick Parish, in Decatur.
Lena was a loving daughter, wife and mother over many decades and is finally resting in peace next to her husband, in Calvary Cemetery, Decatur.
Moran & Goebel Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to St. James Catholic Church. To leave condolences to the family, please visit
www.moranandgoebel.com.
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