Cecilia Goto

Cecilia M. Goto

October 1, 1925 - July 17, 2025

A Queen in Life ~ A Star in Heaven

Please join us in honoring and celebrating the life of Cecilia. She was the 7th of 9 children born to Mary and Edward Thommes, in Chicago, IL. Always one to make the best of everything, she survived a near fatal bout of Scarlet Fever at 18 months and went on to outlive everyone of her generation. Growing up as a member of ‘The Greatest Generation’ together with her beloved husband Irving, she raised her own family of 7. Subsequently she was the proud and loving grandmother of 24, great grandmother of 31, great great grandmother of 8 and great great great grandmother of one special angel baby who preceded her in death. Cecilia was loved by her sons and daughter in-loves along with achieving ‘favorite Aunt’ status with her many cherished nieces and nephews.

She was always ready to lend a helping hand wherever she could. She was an election judge from President Truman through President Obama. She hosted countless family and friends at the family home on Newport Ave or in Hobe Sound, FL. She volunteered at every church she attended, and even helped with the Shabbat service while at Brookdale Senior Living. She visited seniors at Sunrise in Gurnee as part of the lay people who served Communion. She loved supporting her family in any way she could and always found the best in everyone she met. And if she found you at less than your best, you would know it!

She and the love of her life, Irving, loved to travel, host events and were beautiful together on the dance floor. We would be remiss if we didn’t make note of her sense of humor and love of parties and laughter. She was ‘The Queen of Fancy’ and thought no outfit was complete without the panache of a feather boa, amazing shoes or a hat. No one could pull off the outfits she put together like Cecilia!

It is impossible to capture, in this limited space, all that she was and the storied life Cecilia lived. May she always be remembered as kind, loving, hardworking, beautiful, vibrant, thoughtful, charitable and hospitable. Through her good works she has demonstrated how to be loving and generous. We ask that each of you please remember her in your volunteering or charity and continue her legacy of making the world a better place.

Cecilia is survived by her loving children, Marcia Forbes (the late Terry), Susan Schiavone (the late Ken), Leslie Wells (Ken), Cathy Goto, and Melanie Dillon; her cherished grandchildren Andy (Jacqueline), Brian (Jacqueline), Brandon (Lisa), Jeff (Angela), Amy (Chris), Michael Boucher, Walter, Christina (Michael), Marisa (Sean), Ryan (Rachel), Luke, Jillian (Fabian), Sara, Daniel (Adrienne), Kenneth (Angela), Natalie (Mike), Kalani, Emily (Josh), Brooke, Michael (Tanya), Jessie (Richard), Matthew, and Joseph; her darling great-grandchildren Stasia (Tim), Josh (Sasha), Max, Ariel, Chelsea, Lily, Evan, Gwen (Davante), Zach, Jeffery (Emerald), Paige, Samantha, Hannah, Logan, Vivian, Daniel, Alyssa, Connor, Xavian, Gianna, Elliana, Isabella, Danny, Juliana, Layla, Jack, Gianna, Aria, Devin, Michael, Josh, and Abigail; her treasured great-great grandchildren Karma (David), Brooke, Wesley, Lyla, Chloe, Arria, Devin, Darius, and Deklin; and a host of many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and other relatives who will miss her deeply.

She is preceded in passing by beloved husband Irving Goto; her parents Mary and Edward Thommes, her dear siblings, her dear daughter Sharon Weder (and son in love Les), her dear son Gregory Goto (survived by Camille), her sweet granddaughter Lauren, and her newest great-great-great grandson Caspian.

Friends and family will meet for visitation from 12PM to 2PM on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at Christ Church, 1492 Henry Avenue, Des Plaines, IL. The funeral service will begin at 2PM. All are encouraged to ‘dress to impress’ as a final tribute to our beloved ‘Glama-Grandma’. A true celebration of life, Goto style, will follow. Interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Cecilia’s name to https://www.ataxia.org/ would be greatly appreciated.

Family will be livestreaming the funeral service starting at 2PM. A link to the final recording will be available at a later time. Click here to watch the recording of the service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1RehWAn9Qs