DARLENE LOIS VILLANUEVA

SCHAUMBURG - Darlene Lois "Dee" Villanueva, 79, passed away peacefully at Alexian Brothers Hospital in Elk Grove Village on February 11, 2024, after a suffering from unexpected complications associated with a routine procedure. She was surrounded by her loving family at the time. Dee was born on January 13, 1945, to William Jordan and LaVerne Ellis in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Tuley High School. In 1961, Dee met her soon-to-be husband, Dan, at a social club, where she was celebrating her 16th birthday. They were married in 1963, and after a short stay in the city of Chicago, moved to the suburbs, where they spent the last 47 years in the same home and raised their family. Dee worked as a secretary for International Harvester and then Breaker Confections. She then spent 20 years with American Airlines, where she started out as a gate agent and elevated herself to supervising all international flight attendants operating out of O'Hare Airport. Dee retired from American Airlines in 2003, but remained active with the retiree's group and its many activities for the rest of her life, most recently attending their annual dinner dance on January 29. In her retirement years, Dee loved to vacation, and cruises were one of her favorite ways to travel. Never one to subscribe to the phrase "time is money" Dee would meticulously scour the Internet for days searching for the best cruise deals, and often saved tens of dollars in the end. Dee also spent time taking various fashion related classes at Harper College, building on her skills as a self-taught seamstress, to create her own patterns and outfits to the amazement of her family and friends. As an Indianapolis Colts fan, Dee attended some games with her family, and even attended Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis to watch the "other" Manning play. Dee was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Linda (James) Gummere, Beverly Harris and Rick Hansen. She is survived by her husband, Dan; siblings, Bill Jordan, Judy (Chuck) Schramm and Joyce (Earl) Murray; children, Cathie (David) Kross and Joe (Carrie) Villanueva; grandchildren Tori, Daniel, Joey and Presley; and a great-grandson on the way. While we are all saddened to see her go, we take solace knowing that she is in Heaven, and probably already smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee with her two longtime neighbors and friends, Karen and Bev, who were awaiting her arrival. Dee's final wishes were to be cremated, and the family will hold a private celebration of life to be announced at a later date. Online condolences may be made at www.legacy.memoriams.com.