Ginger Kerasotes Allen, Esq.

Ginger A. Kerasotes Allen Esq., 86, of Girard, IL, fell asleep in Christ on Saturday, November 25, 2023. She was born in Springfield, IL, on January 26, 1937, the daughter of Louis and Georgia (Spirakes) Kerasotes.

Ginger was very intelligent and led a good, productive life. She earned many achievements that were unheard of for women of that time-period. Motivated by discrimination against her gender and ignorance and stereotypes about her Greek-American nationality, she saw and reached beyond the status quo! Ginger’s life is storied with accomplishments that, at that time, were reserved mainly for men.

Ginger graduated high school from Ursuline Academy for Women in Springfield, IL, and went on to study at Milliken University in Decatur, IL, where she earned a bachelor’s degree focusing on English, History, and education. While at Milliken, she met Pasquale (Pat) Panici to whom she was married for 27 years. Upon graduation, she started her career in Education as a teacher in Williamsville, IL. Eventually, she worked at several libraries and schools to help her husband support the family, including Glenwood School for Boys. At Glenwood, on top of being a teacher and librarian for several years, she also took over and coached the boys’ basketball team for a rare winning season, just to prove a point! They even asked her to continue coaching, but she wanted to spend those evenings and weekends with her family.

She wanted to try working for herself, so she put her love for books, gifts, cards, and independence to work when she purchased and became a successful small business owner of The Paperback Shop in Chicago Heights, IL. She owned the store for 12 years while still raising her children and helping to put them through high school and college. After selling her business, she later went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso School of Law in Indiana at the age of 54, and practiced as an attorney for 25 years in Illinois, Texas, and New Mexico, both privately and eventually for state government. In Illinois, she worked for the Department of Human Rights, winning cases against some giant corporations for human rights violations. In New Mexico and Texas, she chased down deadbeat dads who were not paying child support. While a practicing attorney, she also studied toward a master’s degree in library science, and in the twilight of her career, worked for the Dallas Public Library.

Ginger was born and raised in Springfield, IL, and was a member of St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church there (Website: http://stanthony.il.goarch.org). The Church was founded by the Kerasotes family in approximately 1957, and named after her beloved and favorite first cousin, Anthony Kerasotes MD, who died earning a purple heart in WWII. She also married Pat there on February 19th, 1961.

Ginger was well-traveled and loved to bike ride, play golf, and tennis. While living in or near Springfield over the years, she enjoyed and supported Washington Park and its Botanical Garden, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. She loved history and reading up on the civil war, President Abe Lincoln, the law, and enjoyed a good mystery novel frequently. She dearly loved nature, flowers (especially roses), watching movies, and her favorite TV shows. Before her daughter’s premature passing, Ginger loved spending time celebrating life by traveling with and pursuing advanced education and law projects with Georgia, also an attorney. Losing her was something from which Ginger never recovered.

In her retired years up to the year she passed away, Ginger still maintained her active status as an attorney via continuing legal education. Also in her final years, she enjoyed countless drives around Central Illinois with her son Tony, and rarely would pass up an opportunity to munch on a fresh glazed Mel-O-Cream doughnut or a cheeseburger from DQ!

Ginger was a wonderful, young mother and enjoyed that privilege more than anything else. She taught her children to never give up on their dreams and ambitions, work hard, see as much of the USA as possible, and pursue a life that was meaningful and helpful to others. She inspired them to be brave, take risks and expose themselves to new and better ways to see and do things. Ginger LOVED her country, and advocated and fought for a better world. She represented and supported Americans that were oppressed and faced abuse, discrimination, and injustice; especially women and minorities.

She is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Christine Yiannias; brothers, Stephen and George Kerasotes; and daughter, Katherine “Georgia” Allen.

Ginger is survived by her son, Andonios (Tony) Panici; nephew, Mark Kerasotes; nieces, Helen Smetana, Stephanie Yiannias, Georgie Yiannias (David Luger), and Connie (Randall Thompson) Antoniou; and grandchild, Matthew Papatheofanis. She renewed her friendship with her ex-husband Pat Panici, who has also survived her, as they stood together every day at the bedside of their daughter Georgia for many months before she fell asleep in Christ in October, 2017. Neither of them ever re-married.

Visitation & Funeral Ceremony: Family will receive friends from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, December 9th, 2023, at St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 1600 S. Glenwood Ave., Springfield. A Ceremony will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. George Pyle officiating. Lunch will be served downstairs, shortly thereafter.

Cremation will be provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center after services.

The family will soon host a celebration of Ginger’s life in January, and a private inurnment at Oak Ridge Cemetery in the Spring.

Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church in Ginger’s honor.

The family is being served by Boardman-Smith Funeral Home, 800 S. Grand Ave. West, Springfield.

Please visit wwww.boardmansmith.com to offer your condolences and for updates on the official date of Ginger’s celebration of life to be held in early January 2024.