Roxanne Elizabeth Engel

Roxanne Elizabeth Engel, 78, of East Peoria, Illinois passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, March 20, 2026.

Roxanne was born on December 27, 1947, in Belding, MI, daughter of the late Delbert and Theora (Lafferty) Dollaway.

Inspired to pursue a career in teaching by her 7th grade English teacher, Ms. Catheart, Roxanne attended Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI from which she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (1970), and subsequently taught kindergarten and first grade classes at Mokena Elementary School in Mokena, IL.

She met her future husband and life partner, Darold C. Engel, on a blind date (1970), where they later married in New Lenox, IL on June 19, 1971. After Roxanne and Darold relocated to East Peoria, IL in the spring of 1977, she stepped away from teaching to focus on raising her family and caring for their family home.

Roxanne was an avid reader, enjoyed studying and maintaining genealogy documentation for her family, and listening to a variety of music genres including country, 1960s to 1980s hits, easy listening, a cappella and holiday music selections amongst others. She loved cooking and experimenting with new recipes to make delicious dishes and recipes to share with her family. Roxanne was also a talented baker, where she enjoyed baking, decorating and customizing many themed cakes over the years to help family and friends celebrate special events. Additionally, she ensured that family members enjoyed a wide variety of home baked Christmas cookies and candies each and every year, whether family visited at home for the holidays, or enjoyed a scrumptious care package of baked goods from Roxanne's kitchen through the mail. She loved sewing, and cross stitch projects, producing beautiful blankets and framed works of art, including a wall hanging of her grandchildren and great grandchildren to display at her family home, as well as making numerous, beautiful customized Christmas stockings for family members and friends over the years. While spending time at home, she loved gardening, including producing an abundance of the best sweet, ripe tomatoes, and growing many types of flowers to add beauty to Darold and Roxanne's home, as well as to cut and share with her neighbors, bringing herself and those around her much joy.

She loved feeding, and watching a wide variety of birds that would frequent the feeders just outside of her kitchen windows, many of which she was able to identify, and where she enjoyed sharing her knowledge and joy of bird watching with visitors. Additionally, the local hummingbird population visited often during the summer months to enjoy Roxanne's "special food mixture", where she loved watching the quick and beautiful birds which she affectionately referred to as her "little hummers". While away from home, Roxanne often enjoyed time at the gym and pool with her husband and numerous friends, or simply enjoyed being out and about in the community where she was loved and recognized for her helpful, kind, and caring (amongst other) character qualities.

Most of all, Roxanne loved spending time with her family, including sharing stories, playing games, looking through family picture albums, cooking and baking together in the kitchen, or taking a tour around the house to look at all of the beautiful flowers that she loved and cared for, amongst various other ways to spend time together. Early on, she was extensively involved in her children's activities, including serving as a Brownie Leader for her daughter's Girl Scout Troop, providing leadership for the Mothers Club at Paul L. Bolin Elementary School in East Peoria, IL where she helped organize and lead room parties and school fundraisers, and many other activities. Later in life, Roxanne thoroughly enjoyed continuing to follow all of her children's and grandchildren's sports and activities, becoming a dedicated Purdue Boilermakers fan in the late 90s as her son, and later, her grandson continued their individual education paths at Purdue University, and where Roxanne was often seen donning Purdue garb while relaxing at home, or enjoying time away.

Roxanne is survived by her loving husband of nearly 55 years, Darold C. Engel of East Peoria, IL, her children Lisa A. Chavarria of Metropolis, IL, and Brian J. Engel of Lafayette, IN, 5 grandchildren: Monica Uhele, Samuel Chavarria, Angela Morehead, Sierra Chavarria, and Mason Engel, 10 great-grandchildren: Emilia, Alexandra, Vincent, Lincoln, Brooklyn, Christina, Mia, Hayden, Houston, and 1 more great-grandson due on June, 11, her siblings Randy (Anne) Dollaway of Green Bay, WI, and Rebecca Dollaway of Saint Joseph, MI, as well as 6 nieces: Jennifer, Kelly, Sarah, Elizabeth, Deborah, and Katherine, as well as extended family members.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory at 2075 Washington Rd. in Washington, IL 61571 on Saturday, April 25th from 2 to 5pm.