Claire Volini

Claire (Morris) Volini, beloved wife of the late Camillo (Gene) Volini, sister-in-law of the late Marguerite Volini, Ph.D., loving mother of James Volini and the late Helen Volini Simon (1998), dear grandmother to Meg Simon Santoro and Dominick Volini, devoted great grandmother (Gma) to Luke, Leiana, Mariella, Alexa and Giovana.
Claire was born March 14, 1932 in Sioux City, Iowa. She was raised on a farm with a store by her mother, Alice Myrtle Campbell and her maternal grandmother. She grew up helping around the farm as well as in the store. Claire loved holidays when they would all go to Arnolds Park on Lake Okoboji. Her favorite way to enjoy the park was sitting by the water on the end of the pier. After high school, Claire and her best friend decided to move to the Big City of Chicago where she first worked for Montgomery Ward department store. Shortly after Montgomery Wards she started working for an insurance agency where she met the love of her life, Camillo “Gene” Volini. They were married on May 19, 1956 and were married for almost 60 years when Gene passed in 2016.
In 1960, they were one of the first couples to purchase a home on Bellwood Lane in Glenview, IL. The house backed up to the parking lot of St. Catherine Laboure church and Claire became known as the “Playground Lady” as each weekday she would monitor lunch recess as the children played in the church/school parking lot. Claire and Gene raised two children, Helen and Jim. The neighborhood filled up with families and they met many friends being parishioners of St. Catherine for 30 years. Entertainment was getting together with the kids, food and drink at each other’s homes. The friends they met on Bellwood Lane became their lifelong friends.
They retired in 1990 and moved to Spirit Lake, IA, where Claire’s dream of having a home on a lake came true. “Villa Volini”, as the home became known, had a pier to fish and dock the boat. For 15 years, Villa Volini was the home to visits from friends and family alike. It was a place Claire could once again enjoy sitting on the pier and watch the water and boats just like she did as a young girl.
Family called, and Claire and Gene moved to Rockfalls and eventually Carol Stream to be closer to Meg and the grandchildren. She took great pride in being a nurturing and devoted care giver to her husband Gene and sister-in-law Marguerite in their final years. Claire loved to watch her soap operas every day and to get in to some jammies, settle in with a good read and a nice cold beer on ice. While she always found great fulfillment in completing new projects, her greatest joy came from spending time with her grandchildren. They enjoyed several family vacations together travelling from Disney World to Branson, Missouri and everywhere in between!
Claire passed away peacefully on July 4, 2019. She will be greatly missed by all her family and her many friends.
Wake Monday 8th, 4 to 8pm
Salerno Rosedale Chapels
450 W Lake St, Roselle, IL 60172
(630) 889-1700
https://maps.app.goo.gl/An52JMpMDt246KWL8
Funeral Tuesday 9th
Mass 10am
Corpus Christi Catholic Church
1415 W Lies Rd, Carol Stream, IL 60188
(630) 483-4673
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ToV86PrtLBG6DEPn9
Followed by internment:
Calvary Catholic Cemetery
301 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 864-3050
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NhGNZpxAZ6z5HXct9
Luncheon to follow:
Firehouse Grill
750 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 733-1911
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FftxRRaL3ASRsxqc9