Beverly Joann McConnaughay

Beverly Joann McConnaughay, age 91, of Elgin, passed away on Friday, April 22nd. Joann was born on January 26th, 1931 to the late Frank “Ed” and Jessie Kristine Johnson. Joann was a lifelong resident of the Elgin area but recently moved to Jacksonville, IL to be closer to family. To know Joann was to love her and be loved by her. She had a special gift of making people feel important and welcomed in any environment. She inspired those around her, and you could always count on her for solid advice and guidance. She was the most optimistic and good hearted woman you could meet. She never complained and made it her life's mission to help others. She worked at Alderwood Healthcare Nursing Home as the activities director for 16 years. She provided so much fun, laughter, and entertainment and was a daily breath of fresh air for all of her residents. She also volunteered many hours to assist various organizations that she felt passionate about. In retirement, she was an avid reader. She loved studying and reading about history, specifically The World Wars and The Korean War. She was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Elgin for many years before she became an active member of the Willow Lake Estates church community. She was also very artistic and enjoyed painting, flower arranging, and gardening. Her true artistic calling, however, was playing the piano. Most of all, Joann was a devoted wife to her late beloved husband Robert “Bob” McConnaughay (who referred to her as his “Swedish Princess”) for 61 years. Joann referred to her marriage to Bob as a “gift from Heaven”. Her family has taken comfort in knowing that Bob and Joann have been reunited. Survivors include their children: Marcy (Jeff) Szczepanski, Tom McConnaughay, Mike (Michelle) McConnaughay, and Kathy (Eric) Brown. Other survivors include her grandchildren: Melissa (Jim) Dodd, Kristina (Ryan) Charnstrom, Jayson, Romeo, Arionna, Mia, and Colton Szczepanski, Sydney (Caleb) Burk, Aaron, Elise, and Kade Brown. Her great grandchildren Kyler, Kaden, Carson, Kaleb, and Emmalynn. Her Brother-In-Law: Arthur McConnaughay, her sisters-in-law: Irene Felkey and Esther Flodstrom as well as many nieces, nephews, friends and a granddog, Chloe. In addition to her parents and husband, Joann was preceded in death by her sister Bonnie, brothers-in-law Chuck, Richard and Gene, and sisters-in-law Irene andEva. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, May, 2nd at 11:00 A.M. in the Miller Funeral Home, West Dundee. Visitation will be held on Monday morning from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.millerfuneralhomedundee.com. For info please call (847) 426-3436.

Beverly Joann McConnaughay

January 26, 1931 - April 22, 2022