Joan Pernecke 1957-2023

Joan Pernecke passed away on March 20, 2023, at the age of 65, after a 6-month battle with esophageal cancer.  

 She was born in Chicago, to the late Catherine E. (nee Hartnett) and Joseph H. Pernecke. Joan was the devoted, proud, loving mother of Beza. She was the sister of Mary Guthrie, Nancy Willis, and Michael Pernecke; and the cherished aunt of Nina Pernecke, Tom Pernecke, Maria, Laura, and Dan Willis, and Andrew Guthrie. Joan was the beloved fiancé of Ed Phillipp. Joan was a dear friend and colleague to many.

Her distinguished career in public service spanned over three decades. It began at the Office of the Attorney General of Illinois and was followed by her service as an Assistant Cook County State's Attorney extraordinaire. Recently, her protective spirit for the children of Illinois was recognized by the Department of Children and Family Services in a resolution. The Department recognized Joan's more than 25 years of volunteer service to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of Illinois' children through her work on Illinois Child Death Review teams and with the Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois.

Family and friends will meet Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Assumption Catholic Church, 323 W. Illinois St., Chicago, IL 60654 for a 9:30 a.m. visitation followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois (CACI), c/o In Memory of Joan Pernecke, 400 S. 9th Street, Suite 101, Springfield, IL 62701, 217-528-2224.