VIRGINIA “SUNNY” EGAN nee Nelson, age 85, of Lombard, passed away peacefully at home on March 20.  Many of her family members were with her.  Visitation will be Monday, April 2, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Brust Funeral Home, 135 South Main Street, Lombard.  Funeral will be Tuesday, April 3, with 9:30 prayers at Brust Funeral Home and a 10 a.m. mass at Sacred Heart Church.  Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Joliet.

Sunny was born in Denver, CO, on April 9, 1926, to the late Carl Bernard and Ottolina (nee Pihl) Nelson.

Sunny was the beloved wife of John J. Egan for 64 years, loving mother of Joseph (who preceded her in death),  John P. of Milwaukee, Michael T. (Sandra) of Geneva, Patrick N. (Karen) of Lombard, Nancy A. (Ronn) Ammons of Lombard, and Kathleen E. (Stephen) Hoelter of Arlington Heights; cherished grandmother of:  Aileen (Elliot) Kloss, Sean Egan, Travis (Jennifer) Egan, Shannon (James) Whelan, Justin Egan (who preceded her in death), Thomas Egan, Joseph Egan, Nicholas (Jes) Ammons, Matthew Ammons, Chalie (August) Ammons, Samantha Ammons, Jessica Ammons, Emily Hoelter, Jacob Hoelter and Sydney Hoelter; and proud great grandmother of:  Janel Kloss, Evan Kloss, Max Egan, Kily Egan, Finn Egan, Maggie Whelan, Joshua Whelan, Kyler Giampolli, Cash Ammons, Lennon Ammons, Chalie Mae Ammons, Ziya Griffin, and Jaxen Ammons.  Sunny was also the dear half sister to Clark Nelson (Michael Smith), caring aunt to Marilyn (Ron) Anderson, Terry (Kathy) Egan, and Jeanine (Chuck) Weilmuenster; and fond former mother-in-law to Deidra Egan and Debbie (Egan) Swans.

Born and raised in Denver, Sunny attended the Denver public schools followed by three years at the University of Colorado where she was an Arts and Science major and belonged to the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.  There she met her future husband, John, and on July 2, 1947, they were married.  After living in Joliet for one year they moved to Lombard where they enjoyed almost 65 years of marriage while raising their family.

Throughout her life, Sunny was extremely proud of her Swedish heritage and enjoyed collecting many Scandinavian keepsakes.  She was an accomplished artist and writer.  Her art work and poetry often reflected her love of family and their interests.  She also enjoyed a variety of crafts, cake decorating, calligraphy, antique shopping and adding to her numerous collections.

Sunny chose to get involved with the Lombard Civic Concerns and Development Program working to make Lombard a wonderful community to raise a family.  Her other early activities included positions at Sacred Heart Church, the PTAs at Lincoln and Green Valley Schools and clubs at Glenbard East High School.  Sunny also served in the Lombard Junior Women’s Club and became a founding member of the Lombard Service League.

As her children grew, Sonny became more active in Lombard organizations and was elected to the Helen Plum Library Board, served in various positions on the Lombard Historical Society, the Lombard Panhellenic Club, the Lombard Women’s Stamp Club, and the Lombard Service League.  Church work was always important to her as she volunteered to be on various committees and commissions, served as Eucharistic Minister, Adoration Chapel Adorer, teacher and Bible study member.

Special honors achieved were Lombard Woman of the Year in 1987, Lombard Service League Honor Life Member in 1996 and a Blue Ribbon for her Garden Rocks and Irish Village artwork in 2003.

Sunny was a true servant to the community, a dedicated leader in all those groups dear to her heart and a wonderful friend to so many.  Above all she was devoted to her family and took great pleasure in visiting with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She loved attending all their special events and made every day they spent together seem special.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Helen Plum Library, 110 West Maple Street, Lombard, IL  60148 would be appreciated.