Cecilia "Ceci" A. Erickson

Cecilia A. “CeCi”, age 70 of Kankakee (Limestone) peacefully entered into her Heavenly Home on September 26, 2013, at her home in Kankakee, after her very lengthy battle with cancer. CeCi was born July 24, 1943 in Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Cecil O. and Mildred A. Von Arx Stice. She graduated from North High School in Omaha, Nebraska in 1961 and graduated from Olivet Nazarene University earning a B.S. in Music Education in 1977. She also attended University of Nebraska at Omaha and Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, where she met and married her husband Bob. CeCi taught Music at Wagner House of Music in Omaha, Nebraska, Chicago School of Music, and Piersol’s Music in Kankakee, and private music lessons in her home. Also, she taught Music at Westview High School and Eastridge High School in Kankakee, Central High School in Clifton, and Music and Physical Education at Grace Baptist Academy in Kankakee. After her teaching career, CeCi became an Insurance Agent and Investment Representative with the Mutual of Omaha Companies for 29 years, winning many company and industry honors and awards. She also placed insurance clients through the George Ryan, Jr. Insurance Company, Bourbonnais. CeCi was a member of the Kankakee Valley Association of Life Underwriters, a Past-president and past member of the Board of Directors, also the Life Underwriting Training Council Chairperson for five years. She was also a member of the Illinois Association of Life Underwriters, serving on the 1997 nominating committee for the State of Illinois slate of Officers. She was also a member of the National Association of Life Underwriters, American Health Insurance Association, and the Life Underwriters Political Action Committee. CeCi was also a member of the national Quality Award and a member of the Million Dollar Round Table. CeCi enjoyed politics, and helped to raise funds for the campaigns of U.S. Congressman Jerry Weller, and 21st Circuit Judge Clark E. Erickson, and Judge Susan Tungate, and supported numerous other candidates. CeCi was selected as a liaison between the insurance industry in the state of Illinois and the congressional office of U.S. Representative Jerry Weller in Washington D.C. She was a member of the Four Rivers Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and served as Chairman of the Nominating Committee for 4 years. She also helped to organize the Top Docs-Top Cops Basketball Game Fundraiser for many years, with the proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. She was former member of The Hundred Club, a former member of Working Women’s Council, a member of the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra, playing the cello, and a member of the Chicago Bears Fan Club, and as an Angel Tree Volunteer for the Prison Fellowship Ministries. She was nominated and selected for Oxford’s Who’s Who’s (the elite registry of extraordinary professionals) for insurance agents and investment representatives. CeCi participated in the Kankakee Principal for A Day program at Kankakee Kennedy Middle Grade School, Bourbonnais Elementary School District, BBCHS, Manteno Intermediate School, and Kankakee Steuben Elementary Center. She was on the Board of Directors of the Arthritis Foundation, Kankakee Chapter and was active in all of their Fundraising activities and efforts such as the annual Arthritis Walk, Jingle Bell Run, and supported luncheons, style shows, and the Bradley House Fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation. CeCi was also a member of the Kankakee Valley Wind Ensemble, playing percussion, under the direction of David Conrad. She was also a member of the Rotary Club of Kankakee serving as President and on the Board of Directors. When visiting Australia, Mexico, and Israel, she presented a Kankakee Club Rotary Banner to the current President of each International Club President. CeCi was a member of Grace Baptist Church for the last 43 years and active in their music ministries, Women’s Missionary group, Joy Club, a member of the church choir until her illness, and supported all the ministries of Grace Baptist Church. Surviving are three daughters and two sons-in-law, Kimberly (Dale) Lehnus of Bourbonnais: Jill Mitchell, of Kankakee; and Julie (Daniel) Leopold, of Moline; five grandchildren, Erica, Laura, and Michelle Lehnus, Allison and Jacob Leopold; one step granddaughter, Danielle (Kyle) Davis; brother-in-law, Donald (Deborah) Erickson, of Bourbonnais; sister-in-law, Nancy (Dr. Ronald) Reilly, of Atlanta, Ga.: two nieces and three nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, her parents; one sister; and precious granddaughter, Hayley Mitchell. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, West Kankakee. The funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, officiated by Pastor Dwight Ascher. The Burial Service will be held at Limestone Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Rush-Riverside Cancer Center, Kankakee or Hospice of Kankakee Valley.

Cecilia "Ceci" A. Erickson

July 24, 1943 - September 26, 2013