University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1982
* Bachelors in Elementary Education
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY (CHICAGO) 1986
* Law Degree
CAUSE OF DEATH:
6year battle with Lung cancer
BIOGRAPHY:
Charmaine stood just 4 feet 11 inches, but her spirit was goliathan.
She was a fireball of charm, a tornado of will.
She let nothing stop her.
In high school, after she dislocated her knee rehearsing her role as Tinkerbell at Carl Sandburg High School, the show went on, Tinkerbell mid-air, leg in full cast.
In a U of I classroom, Charmaine spotted a curious upperclassman, a northsider and Cubs fan, no less.
At first glance, she insisted she would marry him.
Ken stood by her side for 26 years.
Together they created Charmaine's proudest legacy, her beautiful, intelligent and caring daughters, Catherine and Elise. Life wasn't always easy, but Charmaine embraced adversity as challenge.
When Ken's brother Rich was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, she fought to raise money for ALS research. When faced with her own diagnosis, Charmaine advocated for additional funding for lung cancer research, changes in clinical trials and the end to the stigma lung cancer often carries.
Guided by Dr. Philip Bonomi, Charmaine and her devoted brothers pushed the limits of lung cancer treatment and against the odds, gave us all nearly six more years with Charmaine.
With Ken's unfailing support, they spent those years celebrating life, travel to places like Croatia and Spain, accomplishments like college graduations and now, a wedding engagement.
Charmaine had priorities, her friends, her family, her faith.
She died cloaked in all three and Heaven, undoubtedly, just got a lot more interesting.
SOURCES:
6-28-2012 Chicago Tribune
Charmaine Crane
07-02-2012 Chicago Tribune
CHARMAINE ATKENSON CRANE: 1960-2012: Hardship fostered activism, compassion; Hinsdale woman championed lung cancer research, volunteered locally
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1982
* Bachelors in Elementary Education
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY (CHICAGO) 1986
* Law Degree
CAUSE OF DEATH:
6year battle with Lung cancer
BIOGRAPHY:
Charmaine stood just 4 feet 11 inches, but her spirit was goliathan.
She was a fireball of charm, a tornado of will.
She let nothing stop her.
In high school, after she dislocated her knee rehearsing her role as Tinkerbell at Carl Sandburg High School, the show went on, Tinkerbell mid-air, leg in full cast.
In a U of I classroom, Charmaine spotted a curious upperclassman, a northsider and Cubs fan, no less.
At first glance, she insisted she would marry him.
Ken stood by her side for 26 years.
Together they created Charmaine's proudest legacy, her beautiful, intelligent and caring daughters, Catherine and Elise. Life wasn't always easy, but Charmaine embraced adversity as challenge.
When Ken's brother Rich was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, she fought to raise money for ALS research. When faced with her own diagnosis, Charmaine advocated for additional funding for lung cancer research, changes in clinical trials and the end to the stigma lung cancer often carries.
Guided by Dr. Philip Bonomi, Charmaine and her devoted brothers pushed the limits of lung cancer treatment and against the odds, gave us all nearly six more years with Charmaine.
With Ken's unfailing support, they spent those years celebrating life, travel to places like Croatia and Spain, accomplishments like college graduations and now, a wedding engagement.
Charmaine had priorities, her friends, her family, her faith.
She died cloaked in all three and Heaven, undoubtedly, just got a lot more interesting.
SOURCES:
6-28-2012 Chicago Tribune
Charmaine Crane
07-02-2012 Chicago Tribune
CHARMAINE ATKENSON CRANE: 1960-2012: Hardship fostered activism, compassion; Hinsdale woman championed lung cancer research, volunteered locally
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See more Atkenson-Crane or Atkenson memorials in:
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- Illinois Atkenson-Crane or Atkenson
- USA Atkenson-Crane or Atkenson
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