November
11,
1940
11,
1940
November
27,
2024
27,
2024
Judith Anne (“Anne”) Hamilton of Mendota, Illinois, died November 27, 2024 at the age of 84.
Anne was born November 11, 1940 in Chicago, IL to Harvey Manley Hamilton of Neepawa Ontario, Canada and Hjorney (“Joan”) Johnson of Gardar, North Dakota. She grew up surrounded by her mother’s extended family and spent summers with her father’s family in Calgary Alberta who kept her Canadian roots nourished and who wouldn’t allow the “Eh” to disappear from her speech. She is survived by her four children from her marriage to Frederick Newman, including Eric Newman, Christina (Dom) Furore, Karen (Al) Lipay, and Kat (Roger) Shell. Later, she married Joseph Tortorella who preceded her in death. She was Gramma Annie to Adam (Sarah) Furore and to Morgan (Matt) Pirrall and GG Annie to Frances Pirrall and Elijah Furore.
Anne was a woman of many and diverse talents. She won a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago where her natural artistic gift was exercised and nurtured. Her children remember her impromptu sketches of them on scraps of paper using whatever pencil or pen was on hand. She drew intricate, abstract pictures on the bottoms of feet, palms and on tummies that always surprised and delighted them. Once she created a beautiful painting on a piece of burlap using old house paint and a butter knife, creating a subtle and beautiful self-portrait hanging to this day. She was a great home cook and made exceptional and often requested family dishes of lasagna, deep dish pizza, fried dough (a la carnival elephant ears) and Oxtail soup to name a few. She was an accomplished seamstress, sewing evening dresses for herself and school dresses for her daughters. She enjoyed embroidery and loved selecting patterns and color ways for her projects.
Anne was an avid reader of all genres, but particularly history, science fiction and mystery, and loved being transported into the past and far into the future. Her memory was encyclopedic, her brain a catalog of facts and details she could easily retrieve. She was a life-long, devoted Jeopardy viewer who could answer nearly every question, sweeping the board in both rounds, all while reading her latest book. She adored Alex Trebek’s intelligence and good looks, but above all, because he, too, was a Canadian.
Marching bands made Anne break into tears when they passed by during local summer parades and when she heard the 1812 Overture during 4th of July fireworks. She always stood up for the flag with her hand on heart, remembering those, who served and protected us so generously with their lives. She was a proficient piano player who accompanied her children’s band and acrobatic recitals. She played the snare drum in her high school marching band and encouraged her children to learn an instrument, never minding the booms, squeaks and honks resounding throughout the house. She loved the music of Neil Diamond, Don McLean and Queen, which she played frequently and often very loudly.
She had always dreamed of becoming a nurse, a dream that was delayed until she entered nursing school at the age 38. She became a Registered Nurse (RN), graduating at the top of her class. A night owl since childhood, Anne chose to work the night shift throughout her career, continuing to stay up late even after her retirement. She loved the quiet hours the best.
Well known for her spunkiness and equally shy and outspoken character, Anne will be fondly remembered as “Golden Toes” in honor of her favorite and frequently worn pair of gold Chuck Taylor high tops, and as “Annearchy” for her unfiltered opinions that when shared could sometimes shake things up. She was quirky, unique, and a little mischievous, but she was always authentically Anne.
Anne’s faith supported her through the ups and downs of her life, consoling her through several illnesses and life changes. She enjoyed bible studies, singing at Mass, and found consolation in praying the rosary. After enjoying her favorite meal of grilled cheese, she lay down for a nap and went quietly to meet her Savior in the peace of sleep. Anne’s wit, wisdom, and ability to accept everything and everyone that came into her life will be dearly missed by all.
The family thanks the kind and dedicated staff at Allure of Mendota for their care and support.
Arrangements are being handled by the Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home of Earlville, IL. Visitation will be Saturday, December 7th from 9:00-11:00 am at St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church in Earlville with the rosary at 10:30 am. Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. after the visitation. There will be a funeral lunch immediately following the Mass, graciously hosted by the women of St. Theresa’s, to which all are invited. Burial will take place at West Batavia Cemetery following lunch.
Donations in Anne’s memory may be made to Mendota Area Senior Services (MASS). Please direct mass intentions to St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church. For more information or to sign the online guest book go to www.eighnerfuneralhomes.com
Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
407 S. Ottawa St. PO Box 808
Earlville, IL 60518
(815) 246-6491
Anne was born November 11, 1940 in Chicago, IL to Harvey Manley Hamilton of Neepawa Ontario, Canada and Hjorney (“Joan”) Johnson of Gardar, North Dakota. She grew up surrounded by her mother’s extended family and spent summers with her father’s family in Calgary Alberta who kept her Canadian roots nourished and who wouldn’t allow the “Eh” to disappear from her speech. She is survived by her four children from her marriage to Frederick Newman, including Eric Newman, Christina (Dom) Furore, Karen (Al) Lipay, and Kat (Roger) Shell. Later, she married Joseph Tortorella who preceded her in death. She was Gramma Annie to Adam (Sarah) Furore and to Morgan (Matt) Pirrall and GG Annie to Frances Pirrall and Elijah Furore.
Anne was a woman of many and diverse talents. She won a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago where her natural artistic gift was exercised and nurtured. Her children remember her impromptu sketches of them on scraps of paper using whatever pencil or pen was on hand. She drew intricate, abstract pictures on the bottoms of feet, palms and on tummies that always surprised and delighted them. Once she created a beautiful painting on a piece of burlap using old house paint and a butter knife, creating a subtle and beautiful self-portrait hanging to this day. She was a great home cook and made exceptional and often requested family dishes of lasagna, deep dish pizza, fried dough (a la carnival elephant ears) and Oxtail soup to name a few. She was an accomplished seamstress, sewing evening dresses for herself and school dresses for her daughters. She enjoyed embroidery and loved selecting patterns and color ways for her projects.
Anne was an avid reader of all genres, but particularly history, science fiction and mystery, and loved being transported into the past and far into the future. Her memory was encyclopedic, her brain a catalog of facts and details she could easily retrieve. She was a life-long, devoted Jeopardy viewer who could answer nearly every question, sweeping the board in both rounds, all while reading her latest book. She adored Alex Trebek’s intelligence and good looks, but above all, because he, too, was a Canadian.
Marching bands made Anne break into tears when they passed by during local summer parades and when she heard the 1812 Overture during 4th of July fireworks. She always stood up for the flag with her hand on heart, remembering those, who served and protected us so generously with their lives. She was a proficient piano player who accompanied her children’s band and acrobatic recitals. She played the snare drum in her high school marching band and encouraged her children to learn an instrument, never minding the booms, squeaks and honks resounding throughout the house. She loved the music of Neil Diamond, Don McLean and Queen, which she played frequently and often very loudly.
She had always dreamed of becoming a nurse, a dream that was delayed until she entered nursing school at the age 38. She became a Registered Nurse (RN), graduating at the top of her class. A night owl since childhood, Anne chose to work the night shift throughout her career, continuing to stay up late even after her retirement. She loved the quiet hours the best.
Well known for her spunkiness and equally shy and outspoken character, Anne will be fondly remembered as “Golden Toes” in honor of her favorite and frequently worn pair of gold Chuck Taylor high tops, and as “Annearchy” for her unfiltered opinions that when shared could sometimes shake things up. She was quirky, unique, and a little mischievous, but she was always authentically Anne.
Anne’s faith supported her through the ups and downs of her life, consoling her through several illnesses and life changes. She enjoyed bible studies, singing at Mass, and found consolation in praying the rosary. After enjoying her favorite meal of grilled cheese, she lay down for a nap and went quietly to meet her Savior in the peace of sleep. Anne’s wit, wisdom, and ability to accept everything and everyone that came into her life will be dearly missed by all.
The family thanks the kind and dedicated staff at Allure of Mendota for their care and support.
Arrangements are being handled by the Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home of Earlville, IL. Visitation will be Saturday, December 7th from 9:00-11:00 am at St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church in Earlville with the rosary at 10:30 am. Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. after the visitation. There will be a funeral lunch immediately following the Mass, graciously hosted by the women of St. Theresa’s, to which all are invited. Burial will take place at West Batavia Cemetery following lunch.
Donations in Anne’s memory may be made to Mendota Area Senior Services (MASS). Please direct mass intentions to St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church. For more information or to sign the online guest book go to www.eighnerfuneralhomes.com
Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
407 S. Ottawa St. PO Box 808
Earlville, IL 60518
(815) 246-6491
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