Elaine Testa

SOUTH WILMINGTON—Elaine E. Testa (nee Donna), 97, of South Wilmington, passed away March 10, 2023, at Heritage Health in Dwight.
Born in Braidwood on Sept. 27, 1925, Elaine was the daughter of Peter and Effie Donna. She was raised and educated in Braidwood and graduated from Reed-Custer High School. Following high school, Elaine worked at Grinchucks pants factory. On Aug. 19, 1947, she married Carl W. Testa. They lived one year in Braidwood before moving to South Wilmington, where they took over the local school bus business from her brother-in-law. They successfully ran the business for nearly 20 years. After Carl's passing in 1974, Elaine went to work as the manager of the Braidwood Recreation Club golf course pro shop, where she remained for 18 years. She then worked in the deli department at Markettis grocery store in South Wilmington for a few years until transitioning into retirement.
Elaine's favorite pastime was baking pies, cakes, and cookies. If there was an occasion to be celebrated, she always made the “goodies.” She also loved to give cookies to her friends and neighbors. Elaine also enjoyed watching sports, particularly the Chicago Cubs and Bulls along with professional golf and tennis. Most of all, she was a lifelong Cubs fan and got to attend Game 7 of the 1945 World Series between the Cubs and the Detroit Tigers. Elaine was also an avid golfer, having played in ladies' leagues at Braidwood Fairways, High Point Golf Course and Dwight Country Club. Elaine was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in South Wilmington, where she belonged to the Alter and Rosary for many years, baking pies, cakes, and cookies for parish funerals.
Surviving, is her daughter, Lynn (Scott) Allison, of Braidwood, grandson Sean (Jody) Allison of Braidwood; grandson, Shane (Mary) Allison and their sons, Wade and Sam, of Temecula, CA. Also surviving are nephew, Richard (Jeanette) Kusper, of Newport Beach, CA; nieces Kay (Glen) Studley, of Essex; Donna (Bill) Shockey, of Carmel, IN; Pat Testa, of Moline, IL; nephew, Jim (Raelene) Testa, of Mesa, AZ and numerous great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Carl Testa; her brother and his wife, Vincent (Margaret) Donna, sister and husband, Mary (Frank) Huml; sister and husband, Josephine (Jim) Barnett; sister and husband, Connie (Bruno) Muzzarelli and sister and husband, Dolores (LeRoy) Kusper.
Visitation will be at the R.W. Patterson Funeral Home & Crematory on Thursday, March 16, 2023 from 4-8 p.m. Funeral services will be Friday, March 17, leaving in procession from the funeral home at 9:40 a.m. to the St. Lawrence Catholic Church in South Wilmington for Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m.
Donations may be made in her name to the South Wilmington Fire Department or the St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
For more information and to visit her online guestbook, please log on to www.rwpattersonfuneralhomes.com or find them on Facebook.
R.W. Patterson Funeral Home & Crematory, 401 E. Main St., Braidwood has been entrusted with arrangements.