Anna Jane Willson

Anna Jane Willson, 90, of Rockford, IL died in her home peacefully, in the presence of her loving family on Saturday, February 10, 2024. Anna was born February 3, 1934 in Freeport IL, daughter of James C. and Mary Hodgson Slaght. Anna graduated from, Freeport High Schol in 1952. She married Merle Willson April 10, 1953 at the parsonage of the Pleasant Valley, IL Church of God. She and Merle farmed together in the Valley until 1966 when they moved to Rockford. Anna and Merle both spent many years working at Woodward Governor in Rockford and had many wonderful friendships there.

Anna definitely had artistic talent which she shared in many ways with her family. Anna deeply loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a good friend to many, missing each one of them tremendously as they preceded her in death. Anna endured a long and courageous battle against macular degeneration which gradually and sadly took away her ability to paint.

Survivors include her children, Kathy (Thomas) Ricotta, Susan Aamodt, Shari (Jeffrey) Anderson, Laurie (Michael) Wissinger, Anna Maria Willson and Jeffrey Merle (Angie) Willson; grandchildren, Tom (Libby) Ricotta, Anthony Ricotta, Matt (Jessica) Anderson, Christine (Ben Tatham) Anderson, David (Jennifer) Anderson, Sarah Anderson, Daniel (Jessica) Anderson, Nathan (Shannon) Nickel, Valerie Nickel, Jared Wissinger, Shawn (Kristen) Wissinger, Steven Wissinger, Jordan (Danielle) Wissinger, Christian Wissinger, Mary (Justin Johnson) Moritz, Kevin Moritz, Lillian Collins, Sam Willson, Levi Willson and 25 great-grandchildren. Predeceased by her husband, Merle, parents, her beloved grandson, James Joseph Nickel and her siblings, Mary Adams, Helen Bowers and Harry Slaght. The family would like to express deep gratitude to Northern Illinois Hospice, Mahjooba (“your mama, my mama”) and daughter Zara for their tender, loving care of their mother.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory Riverside Chapel with Chaplain Roland Brown officiating. A time of visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until time of the service. Burial in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Freeport. Send condolences and share memories at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.