Joanne Kraus

Joanne Rae (Korda) Kraus, 89, died Thursday November 7, 2024. Joanne was born in Chicago on February 26, 1935 to Francis Raymond (Ray) and Rose Marie (nee Lino) Korda.

Joanne was a proud graduate of East Leyden High School. She married Carl H. Kraus who passed away on July 11, 2014. She met Carl at a baseball game which she was at with her girlfriends. It was love at first site. They were married for 57 years.

Joanne’s father was in the Marines and her mother and sister Joyce lived on a base in California for a couple of years. They came back home and settled in Franklin Park Illinois where her younger brother Raymond and sister Janine were born. She was very active in high school along with her lifelong girlfriends “The Dizzy Dozen”. The Dizzy Dozen did many things together through their lives including get togethers, trips and hamburger night on Mondays.

She worked for Meister Brau out of high school before she married. Joanne and Carl lived in the Philippines on Clark Airforce Base where their son Robert was born. They came back to the states and lived in Michigan where their daughter Diane was born. They moved back to the Philippines and then Arizona before they settled in the Chicago suburbs where they raised their children.

She worked as a hostess at La Gondola in Arlington Heights for many years. After that restaurant closed, she went to work at The Wellington in Arlington Heights. At both restaurants she was known by the regulars and made many friends. She was always the friendly face that greeted patrons as they walked into the restaurants.

Joanne was a loving mother and survived by her two children, Robert (Leslie) and Diane Sanders.

She was a proud grandmother of Alexander (Heather), Aaron (AnnMarie), Raymond (Alexandra) and Hannah Kraus and a great grandmother to Brendan and River Kraus.

She was loved by her many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Carl, her sister Joyce and her parents.

She was an excellent cook, loved dogs, loved to travel with her husband, member of a book club, and was quite the avid bingo player in her later years.

A memorial service to celebrate Joanne's life will be held on February 1, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Mt. Emblem Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the ASPCA, in honor of Joanne's love of animals.

The legacy of love, compassion, and giving that Joanne leaves behind will continue to inspire all who knew her. May she rest in peace