Anita Margaret (Hoffman) Blackbourn     December 18, 1935 - September 9, 2024

Anita Blackbourn, 88, of Freeport, passed away peacefully of natural causes with her family by her side at WinnPrairie Assisted Living on Monday, September 9, 2024.

Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday September 14, 2024 at 11 AM, with visitation at 10 AM, at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Freeport. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Anita was born December 18th, 1935 in Freeport, the daughter of James and Lola (Cheeseman) Hoffman.  She graduated from Aquin High School and married her high school sweetheart and  the love of her life, Fredrick L Blackbourn on January 2, 1954.  He preceded her in death on November 19, 2020.

Anita was an unassuming and humble person who found happiness and pride in taking care of others, in particular her family, as well as taking care of her home and gardens.  While her kids were in school, she worked full time at Wagner Printing and treasured the people with whom she worked.  In the evenings, she would make dinner for the family and then tend to her large garden with her beloved dog Dodo by her side.   During her retirement years, she found happiness attending church daily followed by coffee with her friends. Like clockwork, every weekend during the summer months was spent with her husband going to their lake cottage on White Lake in Wisconsin.  Those weekends included stops at every garage sale en route along with Friday fish fries, Saturday Flea Market outings,  Saturday night mass and then leaving to return home to Freeport, promptly by midday, on Sunday.  Holiday weekends at the lake included family gatherings and bratwurst cookouts. She  also enjoyed sewing and was an extremely talented seamstress.  In her spare time, she also volunteered at Provena/St. Joseph Senior Living.  Anita and Fred were both proud Aquin Boosters and Catholic School supporters as well as members of St. Mary and St. Thomas Catholic Church. Anita never met a dog she didn't like and spoiled her many grand-dogs along the way.

Survivors include her children Linda (Michael) Welch, Moline, Il, James (Roxann) Blackbourn, Freeport, IL, Thomas (Denise) Blackbourn, Montello, WI; grandchildren Mark (Elizabeth) Stewart, Oswego, IL, Kelly (Lenny) Young, Rock Island, IL, Andrea (Daryl) Peterson, Stafford, VA, Jennifer Blackbourn (Adam Bauman) Los Osos, CA, Michelle Gemignani, Panama City Beach, FL; great grandchildren Peter and Zachary Stewart, Leo, Cashel and Torren Young, Delaney and Rayna Peterson, Keeley Lashmett; and a sister, Alice Gouge, Freeport, IL.

She is also survived by Brothers-in-Law Robert Brunkan,  Marvin (Charlotte) Blackbourn, Larry (Patricia) Blackbourn, Don  (Rosie) Blackbourn and Sister-in-Law Cathie Hoffman, and many nieces and nephews.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Frances Brunkan, brother George Hoffman and Sister-in-Law Barbara Hoffman.

The family would like to express our thanks and appreciation to the staff at Winn Prairie for their care during her 6 years in residence, and particularly the compassionate care during her final weeks. Similar thanks go out to Heartland Hospice for their care and for staying with her during that extended period of her journey.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, please pet your dog and give them a treat in honor of Anita.