Jesus welcomed Violet Eileen “Dolly” (Pagnoni) Tesnow, 93, of Lincoln, IL, into His heavenly kingdom on August 5, 2023. She was being cared for and visited by loved ones at her daughter’s home.
Violet, affectionately called Dolly by her siblings, was born May 9, 1930, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Joseph and Adeline (Skwarczewski) Pagnoni. Her childhood was marked by the early death of her young mother and her placement at the St. Mary’s Training School, an orphanage in Des Plaines, IL. Dolly spoke highly of the care she received and the Christian faith that was imparted to her by the nuns, the pristine housekeeping skills she learned, and the strong bond this formed with each of her nine siblings.
After graduating from Proviso High School in 1949 and while working as a secretary at Oak Park Trust and Savings Bank, Dolly met her beloved Fred. Meeting Fred meant marrying her friend, lover, companion, and provider. Together they enjoyed square dancing, crafting, traveling to see their children, visits to Camp Arcadia, hosting family gatherings, and caring for one another. Although 22 years in age separated them, they defied all odds and enjoyed 54 years of life as husband and wife, married on March 28, 1953, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wheaton, IL.
Fred’s adult children, Nancy and Bob, welcomed sisters to the family when Fred and Dolly had two daughters, Patricia (Klemm) and Jeannette (Berger). Motherhood included instilling in her children the values of hard work and lots of play.
Dolly’s zest for life kept her the star of the show at any family gathering. She was a champion for the Pagnoni Family Picnic, shuffleboard winner, competitive card player, and sometimes the exaggerated storyteller, but all this made her the endearing grandma, mom, aunt, cousin, and friend who was adored. Dolly’s spunk drew you in. To know Dolly was to know that you were welcome in her home with open arms. You would be fed a delicious meal and a sweet treat, a cup of coffee would certainly be available at all hours, you would hear about Jesus’s abundant love for you and how “God has been so good to me,” especially through her marriage to her beloved Fred.
After Fred preceded her in death in 2007, Dolly moved from her home in Addison to a retirement village in Lincoln, where family were closer companions and caregivers. Dolly spent the last ten years enjoying almost daily visits from family, attending birthday parties and family gatherings, watching her great-grandchildren after school, spending time with Patty at her family farm, or with Jeannette at their lake house in Indiana. Age didn’t prevent Dolly from playing cards at the senior center, participating in church activities, and treating any visitor with an ice cream cone.
Dolly is survived by children Patty (Robert) Klemm (Waynesville, IL), Jeannette (Jeff) Berger (Monticello, IN), Fred “Bob” Tesnow (Tujunga, CA), and Nancy Anson (Castle Rock, CO); twelve grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; numerous great-great grandchildren; and countless cherished loved ones. She loved that the family kept growing and so did the love we shared.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Frederick; her parents; and her siblings, Lillian Molinari, Eugene, Antoinette Klotter, Roman, Joseph, Richard, Russell, Raymond, and Pearl Pagnoni and her stepsister, Jeannette Rodriguez.
Funeral services for Violet will be held on Friday, August 18 at Zion Lutheran Church, 205 Pulaski Street, Lincoln, IL. Visitation will take place from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. with a service at 4:00 p.m. Graveside burial will be on Monday, August 21 at 12:00 noon at Chapel Hill Gardens, 17W201 Roosevelt Rd, Oakbrook Terrace, IL with fellowship following at Calvary Lutheran Church, Wooddale, IL. Services are entrusted to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln, IL.
Memorials to Maryville Foundation (the orphanage where Dolly was raised), Zion Lutheran Church or Camp Arcadia would honor Dolly’s life. But so would reaching out to a family member to tell them, “I love you right back,” or reminding friends and family of Jesus’ great love for them. For many months, Dolly has been sharing boldly that she is “ready to go be with Jesus.” We rejoice that this is her (and our) promised hope!
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