Vicki L. Lenzini

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 25th from 1:00 PM until time of Memorial Service at 3:00 PM at Marsh Funeral Home, 305 N. Cemetery Rd in Gurnee.

Vicki was born on December 22, 1945, in Chicago, IL to Bruno and Bertha (nee Zalatoris) Baranosky. She obtained her master’s degree and taught 1st Grade at Oakdale Elementary School in Waukegan for 35 years.

During her time at Oakdale Elementary School, Vicki supported her students as a teacher within the Reading Recovery Program, which was an intensive one-to-one literacy program. She worked with children ages 5 to 6 who needed extra support over the course of 12-20 weeks, during which the goal was to help them reach age-appropriate reading levels. Vicki’s husband, Allan, was a licensed pilot. With the permission of the parents and if the student chose to, those who completed the program were eligible to go for an airplane ride.

Vicki’s involvement in the program took her to New Zealand, and her devotion to her students existed throughout her career. Families often requested that their child be placed in her class specifically due to the care she gave to all. She was also part of the school’s social committee.

Vicki and Allan loved to travel, and spent much of their time in Door County, Wisconsin, and Mackinac Island, Michigan. They often visited Arizona to spend time with their friend Pam.

Vicki was an avid music box collector. She also advocated for homeless cats and dogs, and rescued many cats over her lifetime, as well as her beloved dog, Maya. In quiet moments at home, she could be found using her stamp collection to create handmade greeting cards for friends and family.

Vicki is survived by her nephew Michael Nowak and nieces Jennifer (Steven) Kohl and Carin Nowak; her great-niece Elisabeth Kohl and great-nephew Matthew Kohl; her sister Marian Nowak, and many dear friends and family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bruno and Bertha Baranosky, her husband Allan Lenzini, and her brother-in-law Richard Nowak.

Memorial donations in Vicki’s memory to Orphans of the Storm Animal Shelter, Riverwoods, IL: https://orphansofthestorm.org/donate/, are appreciated