Jeanne Pitts

Sun Prairie - Jeanne Margaret Pitts, 91, was reunited with her loved ones in Heaven on Thursday, February 26, 2015. Jeanne was born in Chicago, IL on January 8, 1924 to Albert and Margaret Mary (Payne) Alakson. An only child, she grew up in Chicago where she loved ice skating, spending time with extended family, and meeting popular performers backstage, including Judy Garland, Bob Hope, and Frank Sinatra. While she was teaching an ice skating lesson in 1942 near Navy Pier, Jeanne met her future husband Troy Pitts. They were married in June 1946 and had three children. In 1960, the family moved to Sun Prairie, WI, where Jeanne spent the remainder of her life. Troy and Jeanne divorced in 1973.

During her life, she worked as a secretary, homemaker, restaurant hostess, and in-home caregiver, but her favorite roles were being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandma. Jeanne was a devout Catholic, and belonged to Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary parish in Sun Prairie, WI for almost 55 years. A stylish woman and self-professed clothes horse, Jeanne loved hunting for and modeling clothes, hats, shoes, and accessories. It was rare for her to leave a shop empty-handed. She also enjoyed traveling, and some of her favorite places were San Francisco, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, and the Virgin Islands.

Those who knew and loved her will remember her gentle voice, her compassion for people of all ages, her kindness to others, her devotion to her family and faith, her bright brown eyes which masked an iron will, her never ending supply of treats, and how she could cheer us up with her "zingers".

Jeanne is survived by her sons, Brandon (Darlene) Pitts of Richardson, TX, and Todd (Janet) Pitts of Wesson, MS; six granddaughters, Aimee (Kelly) Ford of Seattle, WA; Tara Derr of Portage, WI; Natasha (Luis) Aguilar and Leah (Matt) Moore, all of Wylie, TX; Ashley (Wyatt) Etheridge and Amber Pitts, all of Plano, TX; and seven great-grandchildren, Gavin, Elijah, Noah, Romeo, Evan, Ian, and Arowyn. Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter Sharon Griffiths.

A memorial service will be held at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie, on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made to Agrace Hospice, St. Vincent de Paul, or Sacred Hearts Catholic church.

The family would like to thank the staff of Prairie Gardens and Agrace Hospice for the loving and compassionate care they provided to Jeanne.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services
1310 Emerald Terrace
(608) 837-9054