Nancy Tunison
1956-10-04 2024-05-09
Nancy L. Tunison (formerly Reynolds), 67, of Cherry Valley, IL died Thursday, May 9, 2024 at OSF St. Anthony’s after complications caused by a recently diagnosed terminal illness.
Born in Rockford, IL on October 24, 1956 to Olga E. Leum and Raymond Tunison, she was the baby of the family. Nancy graduated from Guilford High School in 1974 and started her career with Illinois Bell/AT&T in the 80s and 90s. After the Rockford office closed, she went back to school to become a pharmacy technician and preschool teacher then worked part-time at CVS and full-time as a receptionist at Rosecrance on Harrison. She finished her career with Blue Cross Blue Shield as a claims coordinator, where she finally retired in 2022. Before retirement, Nancy moved into her mother's home and cared for her until her passing in 2021.
Nancy started to develop a love for traveling after she was invited to take a cruise. She loved it so much, she had an Alaskan cruise and trip to North Carolina planned for this summer. Nancy thoroughly enjoyed her recent trip to AZ this winter with her 17 year old pup, Lola, while taking small adventures in the warm sun and having friends visit in her new found happy place. Known as "Nana" to her beloved grandchildren, she made sure to find special ways to create memories with them, one of the most notable trips was to Gatlinburg, TN in a big cabin with the whole family.
Nancy is survived by her loving daughters, DeAnn Mershon (Josh) of Garner, NC and Julie DeRoush (Dave Sharp) of Belvidere, IL; grandsons, Brennan DeRoush and Jordan Mershon; granddaughters, Anelise DeRoush and Lauren Mershon; her only sister, DeEtte Kleindl (Kent); half-brother, Larry Tunison; aunt, Eleanor Ekern; many nieces and nephews (many of which she lovingly cared for before she had her own children); several cousins she enjoyed childhood with; best friends, Maria Alvarez (and son, Jason Fader), Wendy Gage, Carrie Hargrave (and daughters, Aubrey Hargrave and Lauren Hargrave), Cindy Truncer; pseudo-daughters, the telephone crew, all work friends, and lastly her old puppy, Lola.
Preceded in death by her mom, Olga Leum Gossett; father, Raymond Tunison; brothers, Terry Tunison and David (Barbara) Tunison; nephew, Greg Kleindl; niece, RaEtte Reynolds; half-brother, Ted Tunison; and step-father, Paul Gossett.
Her family would like to thank the entire Critical Care Unit and Dr. Dib, Dr. Sreenivasppa, and Dr. Mullapudi, for the amazing care they provided to Nancy. Nurse Lily went above and beyond in the CCU and nurses Cat and Krystelle in Comfort Care made her last days bearable - and the family is forever grateful.
In lieu of flowers, please love hard, take the trip, visit with friends and family, and tell the people you love that you love them often. Hearts are broken and will never be the same, but there is a lesson in all of this heartbreak.
Born in Rockford, IL on October 24, 1956 to Olga E. Leum and Raymond Tunison, she was the baby of the family. Nancy graduated from Guilford High School in 1974 and started her career with Illinois Bell/AT&T in the 80s and 90s. After the Rockford office closed, she went back to school to become a pharmacy technician and preschool teacher then worked part-time at CVS and full-time as a receptionist at Rosecrance on Harrison. She finished her career with Blue Cross Blue Shield as a claims coordinator, where she finally retired in 2022. Before retirement, Nancy moved into her mother's home and cared for her until her passing in 2021.
Nancy started to develop a love for traveling after she was invited to take a cruise. She loved it so much, she had an Alaskan cruise and trip to North Carolina planned for this summer. Nancy thoroughly enjoyed her recent trip to AZ this winter with her 17 year old pup, Lola, while taking small adventures in the warm sun and having friends visit in her new found happy place. Known as "Nana" to her beloved grandchildren, she made sure to find special ways to create memories with them, one of the most notable trips was to Gatlinburg, TN in a big cabin with the whole family.
Nancy is survived by her loving daughters, DeAnn Mershon (Josh) of Garner, NC and Julie DeRoush (Dave Sharp) of Belvidere, IL; grandsons, Brennan DeRoush and Jordan Mershon; granddaughters, Anelise DeRoush and Lauren Mershon; her only sister, DeEtte Kleindl (Kent); half-brother, Larry Tunison; aunt, Eleanor Ekern; many nieces and nephews (many of which she lovingly cared for before she had her own children); several cousins she enjoyed childhood with; best friends, Maria Alvarez (and son, Jason Fader), Wendy Gage, Carrie Hargrave (and daughters, Aubrey Hargrave and Lauren Hargrave), Cindy Truncer; pseudo-daughters, the telephone crew, all work friends, and lastly her old puppy, Lola.
Preceded in death by her mom, Olga Leum Gossett; father, Raymond Tunison; brothers, Terry Tunison and David (Barbara) Tunison; nephew, Greg Kleindl; niece, RaEtte Reynolds; half-brother, Ted Tunison; and step-father, Paul Gossett.
Her family would like to thank the entire Critical Care Unit and Dr. Dib, Dr. Sreenivasppa, and Dr. Mullapudi, for the amazing care they provided to Nancy. Nurse Lily went above and beyond in the CCU and nurses Cat and Krystelle in Comfort Care made her last days bearable - and the family is forever grateful.
In lieu of flowers, please love hard, take the trip, visit with friends and family, and tell the people you love that you love them often. Hearts are broken and will never be the same, but there is a lesson in all of this heartbreak.