JoAnne T. Youman

The visitation for JoAnne T. Youman, will be held Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine, IL, 60067. The Funeral Mass will begin Wednesday, January 22nd, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 455 N. Benton Street, Palatine, IL, 60067.

JoAnne T. Youman, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on January 9, 2025. She was born Joanne Theodora Brzuskiewicz on November 9, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents, Joseph and Angeline, adored their only child, who learned at a very young age to play the piano, organ, French Horn and trumpet, received her first new Buick when she turned 16, was a debutante at 18, and graduated from Mundelein College with a major in Mathematics. JoAnne's first job was as a secretary at a brewery, where they served a glass of cold beer to every employee during lunch (which she promptly handed off to a lucky coworker). Her next job was more propitious - she landed in the secretary pool at Action Diamond in Chicago, Illinois. When a certain young executive named Robert ("Bob") Youman, received a big promotion and was told to pick a private secretary from the pool, he wisely picked JoAnne. Bob successfully wooed her, and they were married on November 21, 1954. They had seven children in 10 years: Robert (Jill) Youman, Charryl (Chip) Youman Abrahamson, Daniel (Deborah) Youman, Cary (Ginny) Youman, Terese (Robert) Youman Krom, Guy (Penelope) Youman and Joseph (Amy) Youman. JoAnne was blessed with 22 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Bob and JoAnne raised their family in Palatine, Illinois, where JoAnne was very active as a Life Member on the PTA Council, did Audio/Visual testing of the children in her school district, taught Communion and ConfirmationClasses at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, was an Election Judge and Clerk (for more than 40 years), and was an active Member of the Palatine Health Board. She was also a Broker/Realtor for 13 years, and enjoyed helping people to achieve the dream of buying their own home. JoAnne was a Booster Club member for all the various athletic adventures of her five sons, and hosted endless, memorable pool parties for what felt like the entire neighborhood, at times, in her backyard. Her home was indeed a second home, and she was a second mom, to all of her children's friends.

Bob and JoAnne retired to Marco Island, Florida, in 1991, where JoAnne fell in love with walking the beach, collecting shells and watching sunsets. Not so much with golf, although she was a member of the Marco Dollies lady's golf quartet, who all dressed alike for their times on the course. JoAnne was also the President of the Marco Island Shell Club, volunteered for the local Newcomers Club, a Eucharistic Minister and Rosary maker at San Marco Church, played the stock market with the Wall Street Dollies Investment Club, was a Past President of the Women's Island Network, a Docent for the Marco Cat, and a member of the Marco Island Civic Association and ARC - where she was secretary for 8 years. JoAnne was one of the "Big Girls," who taught Mah Jong at the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island , where she taught Mah Jong for so many years, the Synagogue gave her an Honorary Membership. Bob passed away in 2008, and JoAnne decided to move closer to her daughters in Venice, Florida, in 2014. She immediately organized an extremely popular Mah Jong Club for Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Venice, and spear headed a CCW group to make rosaries for the church, the military, orphanages, and special occasions. In her spare time, she repaired old rosaries, worked on Soduko and jigsaw puzzles, and entertained a non-stop whirl of friends and family visiting her from out of State. JoAnne was a wonderful cook, and her beef stroganoff, lasagna, sweet and sour cucumbers, cheesecake, "chip-wrecks" and chocolate drop cookies were always in demand. The prevailing joke was, if you were visiting JoAnne in Florida, expect to gain the "Florida 10" (pounds).

JoAnne was the most loving, kind, and selfless person. She had a way of making everyone feel valued and cared for. Her warmth, wisdom, and gentle strength were the foundation of her family. JoAnne was fortunate to have seen most of her immediate family of 52 at her grandson's wedding in Florida, in August, 2024, where she was the one everyone wanted to sit next to, as the family matriarch. She was smart. Funny. Loving. Generous. Kind. A friend to all, and a friend for life. She loved anything by Harry Belafonte, laughed at shows on TLC, and was always game to go shopping and have lunch at one of her favorite places. Preferably with a view of the Gulf of Mexico. And she was FABULOUS, always dressed beautifully, and fully accessorized- never left home without earrings.

Her faith was a cornerstone of her life, and she instilled in her family the importance of trust in God and compassion for others. She was an active member of the Catholic Church in every town she lived in and poured her energy into many service groups that supported those churches. One of the greatest lessons she left was the importance of family. She was their anchor, their safe place, and their biggest cheerleader. She celebrated all victories, comforted them in their struggles, and loved all her children unconditionally. While we are all heartbroken by her passing, we find comfort in knowing that she is now at peace in the presence of the Lord.

JoAnne was truly a special lady, who is already missed by those who love her. A Memorial is scheduled for February 6, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Venice, Florida. Donations in Joanne’s honor can be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Venice for the benefit of the Council of Catholic Women.