Marjorie Jeanne Pernai

She was born on November 25th, 1926, Thanksgiving Day, in Chicago, the daughter of Roy B. and Marguerite B. (O’Shea) Stevens. She married Dominic P. Pernai on November 24th, 1945, whereupon they immediately started their unbelievably loud and loving Irish-Italian Catholic family. They moved to their home near 107th and Pulaski in the Mt. Greenwood neighborhood – where Marjorie resided for more than 50 years – and had six children, Richard, Jeanne, James, Susan, Robert and Dominic, Jr. Over the course of her very filled-to-the-brim life, she became known to her family for her PB&J, spaghetti, French toast and chocolate sauce making skills, for giving the greatest hugs and for always being 15 minutes late.

She traveled the world, took in countless Broadway shows and somehow always skirted around the “no reservations” rule at the Bennigan’s in Chicago Ridge. She was a perennial parishioner of St. Christina Catholic Church, and took her role as family matriarch very seriously: She never missed a holiday, a birthday, a Little League or basketball game, a choir show or dance recital. Among her many amazing traits, Marjorie passed on her love of chocolate, her propensity for self-care and was never seen without her hair and nails done, and a penchant for sarcasm. She kept every handmade ornament her kids and grandkids ever made, and never said no to a cinnamon dolce latte from Starbuck’s.

She taught her family that faith is constant, family is everything and that, “There is no such word as ‘can’t.’” Above all, her family will miss her laughter, and will do everything they can to continue to love as fully and fiercely as she did.

In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her husband, Dominic; her son, James; her sisters, Frances (John) Schultz and Dorothy (Daniel) Atwell; and her brothers, William and Robert (Rose). She is survived by her children, Richard, Jeanne (the late Thomas) Gilmartin, Susan Braner, Robert (Cheryl) and Dominic, Jr. (Amanda), as well as innumerable grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In her final years, Marjorie was lovingly cared for by the wonderful staff at Holy Family Villa in Palos Park, IL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Holy Family Villa to help them continue their caregiving work and provide peace to other families, just as they did for Marjorie’s.