Lauritza "Loretta" Simonson

LAURITZA 'LORETTA' SIMONSON (nee GULLAKSEN) WAS BORN MARCH 23, 1921, IN BERGEN, NORWAY, TO THE LATE RAGNVALD AND LAURITZA (BERENTSEN) GULLAKSEN. THE YOUNGEST OF 5 CHILDREN, SHE CAME TO AMERICA AT THE AGE OF 7, AND SETTLED IN CHICAGO, IL. SHE MARRIED WALTER H. SIMONSON ON AUGUST 17, 1946, AND ENJOYED 59 YEARS OF MARRIAGE BEFORE HIS DEATH IN 2006. SHE JOINED THE LORD ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2018. LORETTA WAS A LICENSED BEAUTICIAN AND WORKED FOR MANY YEARS AT A SALON IN CHICAGO BEFORE RETIRING TO BE A FULL-TIME MOM. TOGETHER SHE AND WALTER BUILT THE HOUSE THAT SHE LIVED IN UNTIL HER DEATH. SHE LOVED HORSEBACK RIDING AND INSTILLED THAT LOVE INTO HER DAUGHTERS, NANCY SIMONSON, AND CINDY MCKEE. LORETTA LOVED WATCHING FOOTBALL AND WAS A LOYAL BEARS FAN. SHE NEVER SAID A BAD WORD ABOUT ANYONE, UNTIL SHE TURNED 85. SHE DECIDED THEN THAT AT THAT AGE SHE DESERVED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK HER MIND. SHE ENJOYED GAMBLING, AND WALLY AND LORETTA FREQUENTLY TRAVELED WITH HER BROTHERS, AND SISTERS-IN-LAWS, BY MOTOR HOME TO LAS VEGAS, AND LAUGHLIN, NV. SHE WAS A FANTASTIC COOK, AND A WONDERFUL HOSTESS. LORETTA WAS HER FAMILIES BIGGEST CHEERLEADER AND FAN, ATTENDING SPORTING EVENTS, 4-H SHOWS, AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS. LORETTA WAS A VERY POSITIVE PERSON AND ENCOURAGED EVERYONE AROUND HER TO 'FIND THE HUMOR IN LIFE'. SHE CREATED MEMORIES THAT WILL FOREVER LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF HER FAMILY. IN ADDITION TO BEING SURVIVED BY HER DAUGHTERS, NANCY AND CINDY; SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER LOVING GRANDSONS, CHRISTOPHER (HANNAH), AND KYLE (KAYLA); AND HER CHERISHED GREAT- GRANDCHILDREN, HESSTON LOHSE, SADIE, CLAYTON AND KASSIDY MCKEE, AND FAITH AND LOCKLYN SHAVER. SHE IS ALSO SURVIVED BY MANY NIECES AND NEPHEWS. SHE IS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER PARENTS; HER HUSBAND, WALTER; HER SISTER, RUTH SULLIVAN; HER BROTHERS, HERB, JOHN, AND KJELL GULLAKSEN; HER SISTERS-IN-LAW, LEONA (LEE), VIVIAN, AND EVELYNN (LINDY) GULLAKSEN; AND BROTHER-IN-LAW, JAMES SULLIVAN. THE FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE AT 11 AM TUESDAY, SEPT. 25 AT JAMES A. O’CONNOR FUNERAL HOME, 11603 EAST MAIN ST, HUNTLEY WITH PASTOR GLEN BORHART OFFICIATING. VISITATION WILL BE FROM 5-7 PM MONDAY, SEPT. 24 AT THE FUNERAL HOME AND WILL CONTINUE ON TUES. PRIOR TO SERVICES FROM 10-11 AM. MEMORIALS MAY BE DIRECTED TO AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY OR ALZHEIMER’S ASSOC.

Lauritza "Loretta" Simonson

March 23, 1921 - September 20, 2018