Elsie Marie Cooney Rapinac

Elsie Marie Cooney Rapinac, 83, of Springfield, died at 8:01 a.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at her residence. She was born on February 21, 1923 in Havana, IL, the daughter of Lucian A. and Ethel M. Parsley Blunt. She married Joseph M. Cooney on September 5, 1943. He preceded her in death on February 23, 1969. She then married Stephen Rapinac on August 21, 1971 in Springfield. She was a beautician’s assistant for forty years and worked at Seven to Heaven, Michael and Joseph’s Coiffeurs and worked at R-Place for twenty-eight years. She was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Elsie liked animals and enjoyed dancing; especially the Polka and liked going to garage sales. She was a generous and loving lady, who was full of energy and loved her family and spending time with them. She was also preceded in death by her parents; five brothers: Gale Blunt, Gaylord Blunt, Donald Blunt, Howard Blunt and Richard Blunt and three sisters: Doris Johns, Anita Johns and Mildred Blunt. She is survived by her husband: Stephen Rapinac; two sons: Joseph (wife, Irene) Cooney, Jr. of Dumfries, VA and Steve Rapinac of Dawson, IL; four daughters: Joyce (husband, James) Henn of Springfield, Theresa (husband, Carl) Riech also of Springfield; Sandra (husband, Melvin) Porter of Petersburg and Veronica Rychel of Dawson; sixteen grand-children; twenty-three great-grandchildren; ten great-great grandchildren and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 11, 2006 at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Visitation will begin with a Prayer Service at 4:00 p.m. Cremation will be accorded by the Cremation Tribute Center, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, 2006 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 2119 N. 20th St., Springfield, with Rev. Mark A. Schulte celebrant. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to: St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 2119 N. 20th St., Springfield, IL 62702 or Animal Protective League, 1001 Taintor Rd., Springfield, IL. The family of Elsie Marie Cooney Rapinac is being served by Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St. Springfield.