Ginny I. Hennelly

Ginny Irene Hennelly, 92, of Loves Park, passed away on October 5, 2022. She was born on June 11, 1930, in Monroe, Wisconsin, the daughter of Dwight and Charlene (Roderick) Hageman. Ginny was raised on a dairy farm near Brodhead, WI. She attended a one room rural schoolhouse. At age 12, she moved to Brodhead to attend Brodhead High School, graduating in 1947. She spent the weekends on the farm. She had many special times with her beloved grandma and aunt Dora. Ginny married Collis Hennelly in Brodhead in 1950. They moved to Chicago where she had several jobs, in 1953, they moved to Rockford. Ginny was a stay-at-home mom and was devoted to raising her four children. She was a wonderful mother, wife, friend to many, and a very active member of our community. The family moved to Loves Park in 1971. She attended Rock Valley College earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1976. She worked as a registered nurse for the Rockford clinic before retiring in 1996. Ginny enjoyed reading, all kinds of puzzles, cross words mostly, bridge and hearts. Ginny loved her cats Sheba, Mitsy and Callie Girl. She loved feeding the birds and squirrels and taking care of her gardens and yard. She mowed the lawn and shoveled her driveway and sidewalks well into her 80’s. She enjoyed traveling and taking bus trips with the Golden Agers. She loved concerts and plays. She was an active volunteer with Rockford Memorial Thrift Shop where she volunteered over 7,000 hours, the Auxiliary Pink Ladies, Big Top Sales, and local libraries where she helped children learn to read and helped with book sales. She was a loving mom, nonna and old nonna, and adored her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren by spending family vacations, road trips and holidays with them. Ginny loved sending cards and writing letters to everyone she knew. Ginny was an independent woman, with a spunky attitude. She was a remarkable, amazing, and intelligent woman, and she will be greatly missed.

She is survived by those who love her most, her children, Mike Hennelly, Colleen Hennelly, Jon Kaemmerlen, Diane Kaemmerlen, and Sharon (Dan) Dittner; cat, Cali girl; grandchildren, Samantha Kaemmerlen, Jacob (Sam) Hennelly, Hannah (Matt) Lunde, Sadie (Mike) Davis, Ryan Kaemmerlen, Jenna (Phil) Riveria, Taylor (Jackie) Hennelly, Kellie (Dan) Baumgartner, and Deanna Cook; great grandchildren, Elyse and Olivia Lunde, Lumen and Harper Davis, Serenity Kaemmerlen, Addie and Augustina Hennelly, Kloe, Laney, and Ryder Kaemmerlen, Luke and Chloe Baumgartner. and one on the way; siblings, Maxine (Allen) Turner, Faith Hansen, Beth (Danny) Burnard, and Nate (Diane) Hageman; sister-in-laws, Lois Pikor and Patty Allen; the boys; next door neighbors, Pauline and Jason Rogers; special friend, Carol Helsden; and many nieces and nephews plus greats. She is predeceased by her parents Dwight and Charlene Hageman; grandma, Mary North Hageman; Aunt, Dora Pinnow; Collis Hennelly; daughter-in-law, Sabra Hennelly; son-in-law, Pierre Kaemmerlen; brother-in-law, Merle Hansen; little Allen Turner; mother and stepfather-in-law, Lillian and Al Christenson; father in law, Martin Hennelly; stepmother in law, Helen Hennelly; and brother-in-law, Adolf Pikor and Dave Allen.

A memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, November 6, 2022, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 3910 N. Rockton Avenue, Rockford 61103. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family. Please share memories and condolences online at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.