Donna J. LaCroix

Donna J. LaCroix, 79, of Germantown Hills, IL, passed away at 11:30 pm on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at her residence.
She was born on April 8, 1946, in Chicago, IL, the first child to Theodore and Marguerite (Breit) Meinhold. She was later followed by the birth of her three sisters.
Donna attended St. Hilary's Elementary School, in Chicago, through the seventh grade. In 1959, her family moved to Wauconda, Illinois where she graduated from Transfiguration Grade School and Wauconda High School. During high school, Donna was selected to attend Illinois Girls State, was elected President of Student Council, and graduated as Salutatorian of the class of 1964. She worked through the last two years of high school as a grocery clerk at the National Food Store.
After high school, Donna attended Northern Illinois University, majoring in biology and education. She completed her Bachelor's degree and graduated with academic honors in 1968. This was also an eventful year in Donna's life because she married her high school sweetheart, Lawrence B. "Larry" LaCroix, and started her first teaching job. She taught biology at Cary-Grove High School, in Cary, Illinois for six years. During this time she completed her Master's degree in Education from N.I.U. In 1974, they moved to the Peoria area, where she began a sabbatical position in the Science Department, at Illinois Central College.
Their beautiful daughter, Amy, was born in 1976, and Donna went from full time teaching to a part-time teaching position at ICC. Teaching at ICC was perfect...it allowed her to spend quality time with her daughter and still maintain a professional life. After Amy was in high school, Donna made the decision to accept a full time position, in the Science Department, at Morton High School. Summers continued to be spent instructing at I.C.C. During her 39 years of teaching, both full and part-time, Donna estimates that she instructed over 6,000 students.
Donna had tried very hard to live her life with the heart of a teacher. She had been very honored to have twice been elected to the "Who's Who Among America's Teachers." Since leaving teaching in 2007, Donna had been fortunate to be able to travel. She particularly enjoyed trips to Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Iceland, South America, the Caribbean, and many destinations within the United States.
Cremation rites have been accorded. No services will be held. Memorial contributions may be given to TAPS, 100 Taps Lane, Pekin, IL 61554. Online condolences at www.masonfuneralhomes.com.
"To my family and friends, I would like to leave them with a big hug...take care and keep smiling. Lastly, "FROG"...Forever Rely On God!" Love, Donna
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