Jeanette M. Crawford

Jeanette Mildred Crawford, 87, passed away on September 15, 2022. A lifelong resident of Rockford Jeanette was born on August 21, 1935, daughter to Arthur and Goldie (Fetters) Hanson. She graduated from West High School in 1953 and went on to work at her mom and aunts’ business, Milkarama and A & W seasonally. She married the love of her life, Richard Crawford at Messiah Lutheran Church in Rockford, Illinois on April 28, 1956. She later started work at Medical Supply which ultimately became Norton Medical Supply and after 29 years she retired in 1998. Jeanette was an active member with Messiah Lutheran and eventually United Lutheran, where she was proud to be a Sunday school teacher, choir member, council member, and never hesitated to go to parishioners’ homes if needed. In her free time while her children were growing up, she became the honorary ‘neighborhood mom’ and went to everybody’s sporting events or extracurricular activities; she was always honored to be able to cheer anybody on and fed anybody that was hungry. Her love extended beyond the neighborhood kids and Jeanette could often be found doting over any animal although dogs had a special place in her heart. Fond memories for the family included camping trips, traveling through most of the U.S States, swimming, and boating. Later in her life she and Richard Sr. enjoyed going to plays at Fireside Theatre, and enjoyed cruises in the Bahamas, Hawaii, Alaska and visiting Mexico. Although being a “warrior” through West High School, she was also proud to be cancer free for the last 8 years. A loving and kind person will be missed by all that knew her.

She will be missed by those who loved her most, her husband of 66 years, Richard Sr.; her children, Becky Crawford and Richard Jr. (Pat La Few); her grandchildren, Rachel Manis, Alexis (Adam) Gloria and Kayla Kievla; her great grandchildren Hadley, Hugh and Henry; her sister Gail (Thomas) Gould Sr., and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her daughter Connie Crawford-Patten; her parents Arthur and Goldie and siblings Sharon Bare and Robert Hanson.

A visitation will take place on Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 3910 N. Rockton Avenue, Rockford, Illinois. Visitation will continue the following day at 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at United Lutheran Church, 3630 N. Rockton Avenue, Rockford, Illinois. Burial to follow at Willwood Burial Park. To send online condolences or share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com