Photo courtesy of Hermann Funeral Home - Stockton
Stockton, Illinois
Sep 19, 1925 – Jul 11, 2020 (Age 94)
Georgia peacefully passed away July 11, in her apartment at The Grand Victorian in Rockford, with her daughter, Janet Schiro, at her bedside. She was born on September 19, 1925 to George (Galileo) and Ida Vannie in Beloit Wisconsin. She graduated from Beloit High School, and from University of Wisconsin Whitewater, with a degree in Education.
Miss Vannie’s first full-time Teaching position was as Business Education Teacher at Stockton High School. While working there she fell in love with and married Eugene Hess, a local young man just back from Military Service. Together they had and raised four children. Georgia was the Bookkeeper and Business Manager for Eugene’s Hess Construction Company. She returned to teaching with positions at Holy Cross Elementary School, Hanover High School, and as instructor for a variety of Continuing Education and GED classes at Highland Community College.
Georgia was a cherished Mom, a beloved Grandmother, and was devout in her Roman Catholic Faith. She was a life-long educator, and a loyal friend to those many whose lives she was of a part.
She is preceded in death by her husband Eugene, her sister and Brother-in-law Vanna (Sam) Schriner, and her parents Galileo and Ida Vannie. She is survived by her four children; Joseph (Jan) Benson (Hess) of La Crescenta CA, Janet V. (Jack) Schiro of Machesney Park IL, Gerard (Debbie) Hess of Kalamazoo MI, and Jonathan (Linda) Hess of Argyle WI, and six Grandchildren, Marissa (Daniel) Feuster, Jillian Sorn, Nick Hess, Alex Hess, Jenna Benson, and Jeremy Benson.
Accomplishments from her early life (that her children never tired of teasing her about) included; being crowned Junior High Girl’s Tennis Champion, being a participant in the High School Water Ballet in 1941, and having her first Secretarial job (as a college student) at The Brown Swiss Dairy Association.
Accomplishments from late in her life, which give testament to her spirit, include; her joy at having her family gather for her September Birthday celebrations, her persistent intercession with the Catholic Diocese of Rockford, making possible the establishment of a regular schedule of Mass being celebrated at the Grand Victorian, and her embrace of the volunteer role of Librarian for The Grand Victorian, from which she shared her love of reading with many others.
Georgia’s remains have been cremated, and her family will hold a Memorial Celebration of her life at a future date.
Read MoreJust seen this in Hanover alumni page Rip Ms. Hess you were a special person in my life without your support & friendship I was not be alive today. Love & Light
August 19, 2020
While a Senior at Hanover High School, I asked Ms. Hess if she would consider offering me the class of Bookkeeping II, as I was expecting to go to college and study Accountancy. She agreed and gave me my lessons which I did independently. She was an inspiration and a wonderful teacher. May she rest in peace.
Bob Gabriel
August 05, 2020 | Apache Junction, AZ | Student
Wonderful memories of Mrs. Hess as my typing, accounting, and shorthand teacher as well as helping us with the yearbook. Always cheerful and played current music so we could type to the beat! If I had known she lived in Rockford, I would have visited since I worked there many years. May she Rest In Peace.
Lori (Bonar) Peterson
August 04, 2020 | Pecatonica, IL | Student
Janet & Family- My deepest sympathies in your loss. Georgia was a wonderful lady and I was blessed to have been her nurse at Grand Victorian. I moved to Killeen, Texas a year ago but I still keep tabs on what is happening in Rockford. Strangely in reading her beautiful obituary I didn't realize that Georgia too was from Stockton. I was raised in Stockton and still have family there. Small world that I never knew that. May all your wonderful memories give you strength during this difficult...
Cynthia Petty
August 03, 2020 | Acquaintance
Mrs. Georgia Hess was my favorite teacher of all time!!! She taught me at Hanover High School for 3 years in Typing 1 & 2, Shorthand 1 & 2, Accounting 1, and as a member of the Hi-Lites' student staff for the school's newspaper. Mrs. Hess is the reason I chose to pursue an undergraduate degree in Business/Office in Administration from Illinois State University and later became a certified Business Teacher in the state of Georgia. I also completed my Master's in Business Education in 2010. ...
Deanna Steinhagen Boughton
August 02, 2020 | Dallas, GA | Teacher
Remembered By
Mary Costello
August 02, 2020 | Friend
Remembered By
Laurie Pellant
August 01, 2020 | Acquaintance
I got to know Georgia when my mom , Jeanne Levine, lived at Grand Victorian . They ate together at the same table. I made sure to say hi when I was in town visiting,my mom. My sister, Betsy, and I got a kick out teasing Georgia because she had trouble telling us apart. She always had a book with her.
Debby Felty
August 01, 2020 | Apopka, FL | Friend
I am sad to hear about the death of Georgia. I got to know her because my mom , Jeanne Levine, also lived at Grand Victorian. She and Georgia ate their meals together. I made sure to say hi to her whenever I was in town visiting my mom from Florida. One of my sisters and I got a kick out of teasing Georgia when she confused us with each other, because we look so much like! We stopped by to say hi , even after our mom was gone. ♥
Debby Felty
August 01, 2020 | Apopka, FL | Friend
