Dorla Jean Happach

PEKIN ~ Dorla Jean “Jeanne” Happach, 65, of Pekin, passed away at 12:54 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria following a courageous 1 1/2 year battle with cancer.

Born July 29, 1949 in Pekin to Kenneth E. and Phyllis D. (Shore) Frampton, she married Kenneth M. Happach, Jr. on August 16, 1975 in Creve Coeur. He survives.

Also surviving are her mother of Pekin; one daughter, Jennifer (Jason) LaFleur of Chicago; two sons, Brian (Caitlin) Happach of Peoria and Matthew (Erika) Happach of Morton; five grandchildren, Kyler, Finnegan, and Daniel Happach and Lucas and Shannon LaFleur; one sister, Linda (Ron) Jackson of Naperville and two brothers, David (Lori) Frampton and Steven (Nancy) Frampton, both of Pekin.

Her father preceded her in death.

Before starting her family, Jeanne worked as a reservationist for Ozark Airlines and as an executive secretary at Caterpillar, Inc. She took a break from her career to have and raise her family, before rejoining the workforce as a realtor for ReMax Connection in Bartonville.

Jeanne’s passion was being involved in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives. She was an avid storyteller with a quick wit about her. She lit up a room when she entered - once you met her you didn’t readily forget her. She was active with P.T.A. and even served as president of the Germantown Hills P.T.A. She loved crafting and working on her family genealogy with family members around the world.

She attended services at Faith Baptist Church in Pekin.

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 31, 2015 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Mr. Kenneth Seest will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to WTVP, P.O. Box 1347, Peoria, IL 61654-1347.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com.