Anita Sprehe Lenzini

Anita Sprehe Lenzini, 96, of Carbondale died on June 1, 2017, in the house she lived in since 1953. 

   Anita was born on June 12, 1920, to parents Ben and Flora (nee Doell) Sprehe in Hoffman in Clinton County. She married Arnold Lenzini on Nov. 27, 1939. 

   From their house on James Street, she and her late husband Arnold started her life achievement, her family. 

   She ensured their front door was always open to all, shared the gift of hand-making 60 dozen tortellini every Thanksgiving and Christmas and typed enough term papers to have earned her own college degree. There were spankings with wooden spoons but also memories of making fold over pancakes. 

   Her children all survive: Dorothy Sisulak (John) of Tempe, Arizona; Peter Lenzini (Marsha Biddle) of Urbana; Mary Lenzini (Sam Thomas) of Waterford, Connecticut; Phillip Lenzini (Shelley) of Peoria; Joseph Lenzini (Bobbe) of Carbondale; and John Lenzini (Silvia) of Carbondale. 

   Her grandchildren are Laura Sisulak (Andy Wagstaff) of Portland, Oregon; Katherine Sisulak (Anthony Aguilar) of Chandler, Arizona; Pete Lenzini (Veronica) of Carterville; Dan Lenzini (Kim) of Mahomet; Anna Lathrop (Jeff) of Quaker Hill, Connecticut; Joe Bondi (Jessica) of Washington, D.C.; Cassie Salazar (Oscar) of Wauconda; Katie Lenzini (John Zeman) of Bloomington; Kelly Lenzini of Carbondale; John Lenzini and Mark Lenzini, both of Carbondale; Ali Stowell of Panama City Beach, Florida; and Sage Strong of Peoria. 

   Her great-grandchildren are Katie Wagstaff, Alex Wagstaff, and Cecily Wagstaff, all of Portland, Oregon; Gabriella Aguilar of Chandler, Arizona; Alec Lenzini (Chelsea) of St. Louis; Anthony Lenzini of Chicago; Cameron Lenzini of Carterville; Lucas Lenzini of Mahomet; Joe Lathrop and William Lathrop, both of Quaker Hill, Connecticut; and Milo Salazar of Wauconda. 

   Also surviving is great great-grandchild Peyton Lenzini of St. Louis and numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and great grand nieces and great grand nephews. 

   She was preceded in death by her husband; siblings Dorothy Sprehe, Alice Westerbeck,  Howard Sprehe, Ralph Sprehe and Forrest Sprehe; and her parents. 

   Besides her family time, she was a founding member of Honor Our Men’s’ Efforts, a service sending sentiments monthly from home to Viet Nam War soldiers from the Carbondale area. She was an Elder of the First Christian Church. She served on the Carbondale Elementary District 95 school board for more than 10 years, including five years as president. She also was involved with Meals on Wheels, Ladies Elks 1243 and for 20 years with Carbondale Community Education Incorporated.

   The family shares thanks with Dr. Jeffrey Ripperda, Gerad Harsy and all of the loving caregivers who are now a part of the family. 

   Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 9, at G. Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale.  Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at First Christian Church in Carbondale. Burial follows at Oakland Cemetery. 

   Memorials may be made to I CAN Read of Southern Illinois or the Carbondale Senior Citizens Center. 

   More information and a guest register are available at www.meredithfh.com