Ann G. Rukavina

Ann G. Rukavina 92, of DeKalb, IL died Monday, June 13, 2016. She was born January 20, 1924, in Youngstown, OH to Catherine and Simon Pavelic.

She graduated from high school in Youngstown and went on to work as a bookkeeper at Armor & Company.

Ann met the love of her life, Louis Rukavina, at a Croatian picnic. They were married July 6, 1945, and made their home in DeKalb, where they raised their family and worked as partners in the family business, Rukavina's Tavern. Ann loved her family, took pride in her cooking, and made each moment count. She was proud of her Croatian heritage and instilled that in her children.

She is survived by her seven daughters, Karen (Dale) Knudson of Sycamore, Linda (Michael) Walt of Lake Holiday, Susan (Richard) Lovell of DeKalb, Nancy (Scott) Connell of Henderson, NV, Anita (Robert) Patton of Winchester, VA, Anne (Michael) Williams of DeKalb and Marie (Randy) Anderson of Darien, IL. Fifteen grandchildren; Angela (Todd) Cambier, Stephanie Knudson, Louisa McCarthy, Michael (Sandy) Walt, Sam (Kori) Walt, Margaret Lovell, Liz Lovell (Simon Roethlisberger), Paul (Jennifer) Hadley, Erica Surova, Grant Williams, Lauren Williams, Steven (Jess) Anderson, Brian Anderson, Kevin Anderson, and Michael Anderson, two step-grandchildren: Kenneth (Rachel) Patton and Keith (Stephanie) Patton; Fourteen great grandchildren; Jack, Gus, Lucia, Finn, Theo, Zachary, Alana, Carolyn, Madelyn, Michael III, Sacha, Samuel II, Madeline, and Indigo; four step great-grandchildren: Jolene, Laurel, Luke, and Ella. In her last days she said, "I love them all, one by one."

She is also survived by four brothers; Mike (Valerie) Pavelic, Joe (Mary) Pesut, Robert (Gretchen) Pesut, and Marty (Sherry) Pesut. One sister; Beatrice Chumita and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Catherine and Simon and step-father Martin Pesut, her husband in 1970 and a son at birth, two sisters, Marie Roman and Maggie Dvorak and one brother, Danny Pesut.

Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 11:30am at St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb with Father Dean Russell officiating. Burial will take place immediately following the service at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2016 from 9:30am until the time of service at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center Foundation or KishHealth System Hospice.

The Family would like to thank the caring staff at DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center and the KishHealth system Hospice Nurses, who all helped to make Ann's final days comfortable.

To send an online condolence please visit: www.finchfuneralhomedekalb.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL 60115 815-758-3841.