FAIRBURY – Deanna Marie Nussbaum-Canonge, 54 of Paris, France formerly of Fairbury and Rockford passed away Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Maison Médicale Jeanne Garnier Hospital in Paris, France.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 1st Presbyterian Church of Fairbury with Pastor Dan Robertson officiating. A graveside inurnment will follow the service in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury.
A visitation with the family will be from 12:00 to 1:45 p.m., prior to the memorial service also at the church in Fairbury on Tuesday. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is in charge of local arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be left in Deanna’s name to Children’s Home and Aid Society of Rockford or an Animal Shelter or Humane Society of the donor’s choice.
Deanna was born on September 22, 1962 in Fairbury; a daughter to Robert Clark and Phyllis Joy (Kilgus) Nussbaum Sr. She married Regis Canonge on March 15, 2003 in Paris, France. He survives in Paris, France.
Other survivors include her mother, Phyllis Nussbaum Fyke of Fairbury; two brothers, Robert (Anne) Nussbaum of Fairbury; Gregory (Patryce) Nussbaum of Bloomington; two step-sisters, Karen (Bill) Curtiss of Acworth, GA; Nancy (Steve) Artz of Byrdstown, TN; 5 nieces, Jennifer (Jason) Stuckey, Susan (Matthew) Starr, Emma (Andrew) King, Melissa Nussbaum, Rebecca (Eric) Sommer; and 1 nephew, Grant Nussbaum.
Deanna was preceded in death by her father, Bob and her stepfather, George.
Deanna was a 1980 graduate of Fairbury-Cropsey High School; she received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Ed and Psychology from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston and then her Master’s degree in Counseling Education from Northern Illinois University, Dekalb.
She worked at Children’s Home and Aid Society in Rockford as Supervisor of the Treatment Foster Care Program. Deanna also had a full professional life during her years in France. She established a private practice as a Licensed Clinical Therapist, treating children and their families. In 2004 she co-authored, with a French Psychiatrist, a book on practical behavioral tips for parents with difficult children. From 2005 to 2010 she was acting president of Sprint; a non-profit organization of English speaking professionals who work with children with special needs. She is remembered as an enthusiastic, energetic and fair leader.
While living in France over the past 14 years Deanna deeply missed her family, Dr. Pepper, Pop Tarts and baseball, especially the Chicago White Sox, the team to which she and her dad were fiercely loyal.
Deanna’s enthusiasm and energy will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Online condolences left for the family and a guest registry are available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.