Leonora Cervac

Leonora Clothilde Cervac

Nee: Parenti

"Lennie"

December 7, 1930 - November 19, 2022

On Saturday morning, the gates of heaven blew open with a penetrating blast of wind. As St. Peter picked himself up off the ground, he saw a breathtakingly beautiful brunette woman standing at the entrance. With trumpets sounding, the woman, with her hands on her hips, looked him straight in the eye and whispered “I have arrived.  Let’s get this show on the road.” 

Leonora Clothilde (Parenti) Cervac, better known as “Lennie”, arrived in the world on December 7, 1930 and passed into the good Lord's hands Saturday morning, November 19th, 2022  at 1 AM. 

Lennie was a quick wit, adventurous, sharp tongued, brilliant, daring and absolutely years ahead of her time. She loved sending hand made cards to friends that she adored, painting birdhouses from gourds she collected, decorating her home, building magnificent rock and flower gardens and loved history. She consumed information– reading books, devouring newspapers and learning every day of her life till the end of her life. Life was her passion. 

Lennie married Jacob Anthony Cervac in 1953 and together they rocked the world with their friendship, creativity, devilish pranks (some still undiscovered) and awesome celebrations that always lasted well into the night and many lasting for days. 

Lennie and Jack started their family with their son, Dana and lost him to a cruel and awful disease – Osteogenesis Imperfecta – better known as brittle bone. The disease caused over 200 broken bones before he passed away at 3 years old. Lennie and Jack weathered that torrential rainshower of despair and moved forward to have two remarkable daughters –Lisa Cervac of Highwood, IL and Rebecca Parrish of Everett, Washington. Both daughters have spent a lifetime learning amazing lessons from their mother. 

In her mid 40’s, after raising her children, Leonora started a new adventure. She began her business selling, appraising and buying rare books and antiques. She opened in a small shop but within a year opened a 3 story emporium. She was conducting shows across the country and was answering questions for listeners on the radio. She was extraordinary at it. 

Leonora is preceded in death by her mother, Edith (Balducci) and father, Frank Parenti, her husband Jacob Anthony Cervac, her son Dana, her mother and father in law Mary (Kerpan) and Anton (Cerovac) Cervac, her nephew Joseph, her brother and sisters in laws Edward Cervac, Joseph “Babe” Cervac and his wife, Norma, Leo “Bence” Cervetti, Anthony Simotovitch, cousin Bill Cervetti and his wife Gloria. 

Lenny will spend eternity building magnificent gardens, creating beautiful works of art, reading the unpublished manuscripts of great authors. Her daughters and her extended family, sister Elaine, sister and brother in law, Helen, Honey, William, and her one time co conspirator Anna Cervetti. nieces and nephews Renee, Melody, Danny, Squire, Linda, Denise, Suzy, Kimmy,  John, Billy, Tina, Cindy, Gina, Linda and Marsha and all of her Iowa relatives, Frank, Alicia, Jim, Tony, Aj, Rick, Mick, Vicky and her beloved cousins Marie and Aldo will spend eternity missing her and telling Lenny Stories. She lived her life well and made a difference. 

“Some women are lost in the fire. 

Some women are built from it.”

Michele K

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