Dawn Alice Jelinek passed away on July 17, 2016 after a 3 year battle with pancreatic cancer. Dawn was born to Robert and Alice Kirchhoff in Chicago, IL. She was the fourth child in a family of five children. Her heart lived and breathed all things Chicago; the museums, the pizza, the Bulls, the Italian beef sandwiches and of course, her childhood favorite, Russell's Barbeque.
Dawn married her high-school sweetheart, John, in 1976 and they remained happily married for 40 years. There was never a couple more in love than Dawn and John. For many people, their marriage was considered the example of what a marriage should be like. In the days before Dawn passed, she repeatedly told family members "he is the love of my life". Together they had 2 children, Michael and Anne. Dawn was the quintessential mother. She read to her children every night, never missed a basketball game, showed them the definition of unconditional love and always had the family sit down to enjoy dinner with each other. Dawn was not only the mother to her own children, she was considered a second mom to many and a mother to the motherless. Her friends have been known to say that they were closer to Dawn then they were to their own mother. She made all people feel accepted, welcomed and cared for. Her kindness was unmatched and her loyalty unquestioned. If her family or friends needed her, she was always there with a smile that lit up the room and a helping hand. Dawn was the epitome of class and selflessness, always putting others before herself.
Dawn loved life. Her greatest joy was being with her four grandchildren Sophia, Evelyn, Eleanor and Miles. She could often be seen running around barefoot with her grandkids in the backyard. She enjoyed taking motorcycle rides with her husband, baking/decorating cakes for her grandchildren and most of all, spending time with her family. She was an avid reader, loved to play games and cards and wouldn't miss an episode of Breaking Bad, Doctor Who, Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead. Dawn was able to fulfill her dreams of traveling to Paris and Italy with her husband last fall and was also able to take her family to Disneyland where her favorite ride was the Tower of Terror.
Dawn is survived by her loving husband John, her children Michael (Marinda) and Anne (Mike), her four grandchildren, her family back home in Chicago as well as her many friends whose lives she forever impacted. She is preceded in death by her mother, brother Paul and granddaughter Charlotte.
A visitation will be held on Friday, July 22, 2016 from 6:00 ‚ 6:30 PM at Larkin Sunset Gardens 1950 Dimple Dell Rd (10600 South), in Sandy. Friends and family will share memories beginning at 6:30PM with balloon release at 8:00PM. Online condolence welcomed at www.larkincares.com.
