Hilda Lanuti

Hilda E. Lanuti, 94 of Ottawa, loving mother, grandmother, aunt and friend passed away Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Pleasant View Lutheran Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 am Thursday, February 12, 2015 at St. Francis of Assisi Church with Rev. Augustin Kassa officiating. Visitation will be 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at Ottawa Funeral Home with prayers at 3:45 pm. She will be buried in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery. Hilda was born July 25, 1920 in Standard, Illinois to Celso and Ernestina (Poggi) Vighi. She married Joseph Lanuti November 20, 1948 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Naplate, Illinois; he passed away June 24, 2004. She is a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church and The Catholic Daughter's of The Americas. Hilda and Joe were long time supporters of Marquette High School; especially the May Merriment fundraiser. Hilda was a nurse prior to marriage. She graduated from nursing school at St. Mary's in LaSalle. She worked in Chicago for a short time and returned to Ottawa to work with her brother, Dr. Vito Vighi. She met Joe when he came in for allergy shots. Everyone remembers how Hilda and Joe would float across the dance floor, or kick up their heels in a polka. She loved to cook, sew, crochet, embroider, play bridge, and our favorite family game, Scrabble. Her sense of humor and quick wit brought smiles to everyone. Family was very important to her and she cherished all the times we spent together. She touched all of our lives and will be loved and remembered forever. She is survived by three daughters, Mary (Dale) Botts of Fullerton, CA; Joanne (Charles) Monroe of Ottawa, and Janice Phillips of Las Vegas, NV; two sons, Wm. Vito (Denice) Lanuti of Seal Beach, Ca, and Richard (Denise) Lanuti of Prairie Grove, AR; eleven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband; one son, Joseph E. Lanuti Jr.; two sisters, Laintina Seriekas and Pearl Scurti; two brothers, Dr. Vito Vighi and Lindo Vighi; and a son-in-law, William Phillips. Pallbearers will be Wm.Vito Lanuti, Richard Lanuti, Charles Monroe, Austin Monroe, Michael Botts, and Armando Lanuti. Honorary pallbearers will be John Lanuti, Dale Botts, and Jim Lanuti.