Virginia Lee “Jinx” Johansen, nee Hawkins, late of Wheaton, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, September 5, 2012, at Central DuPage Hospital, in Wheaton. Born in Hood River, Oregon, August 8, 1926, to the late Joseph Warren and Sylvia Ruth (nee Rosenberry) Hawkins; beloved wife of the late Chester Johansen; beloved wife of the late Jerome D. Pilarski; loving mother of Karalee L. (nee Pilarski) Hawkins and her husband, Steve  Newman; Patricia A. (nee Pilarski) and Thomas Coe Morgan; and Thomas J. and Debi  Pilarski; dear grandmother of Christopher T. (Theresa) Morgan, Brian D. (Marianne) Morgan, Elizabeth A. Morgan, Heidi L. (nee Pilarski) Pecoraro,  Heather A. Pilarski, Hawkins D. Boyle, Erin C.A. (nee Boyle) Donelson;  beloved great-grandmother of Makayla Coe Morgan, Isabella F. Morgan, River Coe Morgan, Evie Pecoraro, and Colin T. Donelson; sister of Theo (Dan) Dority, and the late JoAnn (Bernard) Nebe; sister-in-law to Norman T. and Ione Pilarski; numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Virginia “Jinx” was a long time beloved resident (27 years) of Wynscape Health Care Center where over the years she served as volunteer receptionist, volunteered in the commissary, taught arts and crafts to the residents, delivered the mail to residents, welcomed new residents, and served as President of the Resident Council. Offsite she also volunteered at Cantigny Gardens.

Virginia missed the Pacific Northwest dearly when she came with her new family to Chicago in 1948, where she lived at the Pilarski family home in Chicago , and then resided in Warrenville, Illinois for over 35 years through the passing of her two husbands. Virginia was known to have a heart of gold for all living creatures great and small…lost dogs, stray cats, and injured birds. Her family remembers the creativity, her artistry, her unique love of the Pacific Northwest, the ocean and its forests, and Mt. Hood, where she always liked to say, her Mother and Dad got married.

Family will receive friends and loved ones at the home of Patricia and Thomas Morgan, 4N154 Thornapple Road, St. Charles, Illinois, Saturday, September 8, 2012 from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. in a celebration of the life of their beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and Aunt, Virginia Lee Johansen.

The family offers sincere appreciation and thanksgiving to the wonderful care Virginia received from the time she arrived at the Emergency Room of Central DuPage Hospital, through the transfers to ICU and 4C, and the gentle and caring support she and her daughters received during Virginia’s journey through transition to her new life.  We could not have imagined a more loving, aesthetic, or caring environment for our Mother, or of more beautiful caring for her mind, body and soul, through her last passage of life.

We extend our deep gratitude to the many wonderful care givers at Wynscape throughout our Mother’s 27 years as a resident.  Her nurses, techs, and other staff were family to her and we know she will be missed.

We also offer our sincere appreciation to Passages Hospice care.

In honor of our beloved Grandmother/Great Grandmother/and Mother, Virginia “Jinx” Johansen, we are asking family and friends who wish to send flowers to her memorial to please consider donating to her Grandaughter, Elizabeth Morgan’s home instead at Misericordia, Heart of Mercy, 6300 North Ridge, Chicago, Illinois, 60660-1017.  Please include the family number 3801 on your donation so that it may go in the family’s name for their daughter, Elizabeth

As most of you are aware, Elizabeth “Betsy” (to her friends) has been loving life at her very special home on Chicago’s north side, Misericordia. This is an awesome facility with every opportunity provided to the residents through the care and compassion of a wonderful staff and many aggressive fundraising outreach efforts. Our family is committed to helping keep this life-enriching home open and running 365 days a year. This isn’t easily done, as their annual deficit hovers around 13 million.

Grandma Jinx loved her Elizabeth so very much, and we know that with her passing if she could do one last thing for Beth, it would make her so proud.

Many thanks for your support and much love to you all,

The Morgan, Pilarski, and Hawkins family

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/brianmorgan/elizabethmorgansfamily

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