Obituaries

Jill Rhodes Brown passed away on October 1, 2018, at Rush University Medical Center, surrounded by her family.  She had fought cancer to a standstill for a year and a half.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to Dr. Philip D. Bonomi and his wonderful staff, especially Ms. Irene E. Haapoja, RN, who treated Jill with such skill and compassion during her illness.  Dr. Bonomi and Ms. Haapoja were always available to us.

The family also wishes to thank the staff at Rush, especially the nurses in ICU and 7 North, who cared for Jill with patience and understanding during the last two weeks of her life.

Jill was a vivacious person who enjoyed conversation and meeting new people.  Her conversations frequently occurred over a glass of wine.  She almost always wore a smile, even when she was very sick.  She was totally dedicated to her family.  She thought of herself as a momma bear looking after her cubs.  Jill lived for today and didn’t worry much about tomorrow.  Her philosophy was that everything happens for a reason and everything turns out for the best, and she lived that philosophy every day.  She showed great strength and courage during many difficult times.

Jill was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva for 30 years.  She found there a spiritual home for which she had been searching all of her adult life.  She gave the congregation a large dose of extroversion, always seeking out visitors to chat with and helping orient new members.

Jill was the long-time proprietor of The Snippery hair salon in St. Charles, Illinois.  She could be found there most days, zipping around, mixing colors, cutting hair, and chatting with all present.  After cutting her hours to devote more time to her grandchildren, she continued to work in the salon part-time well past retirement age, just because she loved the work and the people.

Jill Louise Bamerick was born in St. Louis in 1946.  After living in Chicago for a few years, the family moved to St. Louis, where Jill grew up in a large extended family, including her great grandmother Dale, grandfather Dale, grandmother Dale, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.  The family attended the Overland Christian Church.

The family later moved to Decatur, Illinois.  They attended the Central Christian Church of Decatur, where Jill and her sister, Melanie, sang in the choir.  Jill attended junior high and high school in Decatur, graduating from Stephen Decatur High School in 1964.  During high school, Jill and her best friend, Jed (Jeanette Curry Woolley), enjoyed cruising Eldorado Street, hanging out at Steak and Shake, Elam’s, and Perry’s, and dancing at the Lakeside Dance Club.  Jill was a sweet girl in high school and had a smile for everyone.  After high school she immediately began styling hair, in the fashion of the day, the work she always loved best.

After starting a family and moving around the country, Jill eventually moved back to St. Louis and worked for several years at The Educational Center in Clayton, Missouri.  She often ate lunch with her friends down the street at Carl’s Delicatessen and met her future husband, Dr. Donald M. Brown, around the corner on Alamo Avenue.  They married on June 8, 1984, in St. Louis.  They soon moved to the Chicago area and have lived in the Fox Valley since 1988.  Her husband loved Jill very much and doesn’t know what he will do without her.

Jill is survived by her husband of 34 years, Don Brown; her daughters Amanda Rhodes Thor and Jennifer Rhodes Liedberg; her step-sons Patrick and Eric Brown; her son-in-law Scot Thor; her daughter-in-law Kristin Brown; her siblings Richard Bamerick and Melanie Russell;                                                                       her sisters-in-law Judy Brown Lundstrom and Barbara Rhodes, her close friend of 55 years; seven grandchildren, in order of age, Meredith Liedberg, Justin Liedberg, Ellyson Thor, Sara Thor, Grace Thor, Iliana Brown, and Emerson Brown; her uncles Ray Fee and David Dale; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Marcelle Dale Bamerick.

A memorial service is planned for November 10, 2018, at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, 102 South 2^nd Street, Geneva, Illinois.  Visitation will begin at 11:00 A.M.  The service is at noon.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

To leave an online condolence for the family, visit the funeral home’s obituary page at www.yursfuneralhomes.com. For more information, please call Yurs Funeral Home of St. Charles, 630-584-0060.

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