Pauline Fornelli

Pauline Ann (Tira) Fornelli

"Pudge"

Age 100 of rural Coal City, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, March 24, 2009 at the Morris Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, surrounded by her loving family.

Born November 16, 1908 in Coal City, Illinois, Pauline was a daughter of the late Martin and Maria (Cortese) Tira. She was a graduate of Coal City High School with the graduating class of 1927 and on October 7, 1942 she married Domenic Fornelli in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Kankakee. Pauline enjoyed living on the Fornelli farm, where she resided for over 66 years. If you visited the farm, you would often find her outside gardening or inside cooking and baking. Pudge was an active member of the Coal City Senior Citizens for many years and the Assumption C.C.W.

Survivors include her daughter Rita Fornelli-Willis of rural Coal City; her brother Louis Tira of Coal City; numerous nieces and nephews; great nieces and great nephews and great-great nieces and great-great nephews, who enjoyed their aunt Pudge's company and days of being out at her farm.

Pudge was preceded in death by her husband Domenic Fornelli, who died in 1967; her son-in-law Harry G. Willis, Jr.; sisters: Mary Bono, Victoria Eusebio and Louise Vogen and brothers: John Tira, Keely Tira and Dominic Tira.

Visitation will be held on Saturday March 28, 2009 from 9:00AM until 10:30AM at Reeves Funeral Home, 75 North Broadway (one block North of Illinois Route 113) in Coal City.

Funeral services will follow at 11:00AM in Assumption Catholic Church, 245 South Kankakee Street in Coal City, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Reverend Jim Nowak officiating.

Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wilmington and friends and family are invited to return to the Berst Center in Coal City following the graveside services for a luncheon which will be prepared by The Martha's.

Pallbearers will be: Matthew Hook, James Tira, Thomas Vogen, Arnold Eusebio, Daniel Tira and Donald Tira

Honorary pallbearers will be: Michael Rolinitis and Timothy O'Keefe.

Preferred memorials in lieu of flowers may be made as gifts in Pudge's memory to her family for distribution to local charities of their choosing.

Friends may sign the online guest book or send private condolences to the family by logging onto: www.ReevesFuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction of Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. in Coal City. (815/634-2125)