LENORA PALOVIC Johnston City-Lenora Palovic, 92, passed away at 12:23 P.M. on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at her daughter's home in Bloomington.

Lenora's life was driven by her love for her husband, Tommy, her family, her faith, and her friends. Everything she and Tommy did was for their daughters, Lisa and Donna, their husbands, and their children - her beloved Danny, Cathy, Ryan and Emma.

Lenora spent her life helping not only her family, but also her friends and any strangers she encountered who were down on their luck. Her chosen career as a social worker for the Illinois Department of Public Aid allowed her to help others, occasionally "bend the rules", and even help people out of her own pocket while often rallying her co-workers to do the same.
She had a heart for neglected animals, and multiple bags of pet food have been purchased over the years to feed the occasional stray that came by - it's as if they knew she would always be a soft touch.

Lenora's passion for cooking was legendary. Anyone who knew her knew she loved to collect recipes and try out her creations on friends, family, church bake sales, and even for Donna's and Lisa's friends at school. Her collection of cookbooks and kitchen equipment was a source of constant happiness for her and those fortunate enough to enjoy her culinary talents. Holidays in the Palovic household consisted of family, friends, and anyone else lucky enough to "run into Lenora" and receive a spontaneous invitation. Never knowing how many people to expect, miraculously, there was always enough food!

Lenora's parents immigrated from Italy, and when she was 2 years old and her brother, Olympio, was 6 years old, their father was killed in a coal mining accident. Growing up during the hardship of the Depression, she was so proud of her mother, who, on her own, managed to raise her and her brother with plenty to eat, a roof over their heads, and a deep-rooted faith in God. She and her mom lived with the sadness of Olympio's early death as a World War II fighter pilot, shot down over Germany during one of his early missions.

A college graduate, Lenora got her dream job as a social worker before marrying the love of her life, her Tommy. Their love for one another was on display every single day of their lives together, and they were inseparable.

Family was everything to Lenora and one of her greatest joys later in life was being able to travel to Italy to meet her extended family – it was a beautiful reunion, and that bond continues to live on through Donna and Lisa.

Looking back, it's clear that Lenora's entire life was about her family, her unshakeable faith, and helping others. She loved saving inspirational quotes, and one of her favorite ones read: "Life is short. Live it to the fullest. It has no expiration date." We now know how true this is. Her love and life will live on in her children, grand-children, and everyone blessed enough to be a part of her life. And, most importantly, her life now lives on in a world beyond our comprehension, in the presence of God, her family and friends who have gone before her, and especially in the arms of her dear Tommy.

Visitation for Lenora will be at Murman and Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City on Friday, December 22, from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Johnston City.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Marion VFW Ritual Team, 201 West Long Street Road, Marion, IL 62959.