We honor the life of Lucretia Aline Klevesahl, née Perrino, who left us on July 5, 2026, in Wheaton, Illinois. She was born in Bari Italy on January 1, 1951. Her mother had a difficult birth at home and obtained an infection. Lucretia was nursed by her aunt Maria who recently had lost a baby.

Rooted in strong family values passed down from her late parents, Michael and Raffaella nee Sebastiano Perrino, Lucretia cultivated a life imbued with strong Roman Catholic values. Lucretia was co-raised by her aunt Nella during many of her young childhood years because her parents managed a cafe in another town. Lucretia always spoke fondly of her aunt Nella. Multiple family members lived in adjoining apartments with a central garden where Lucretia remembered eating lemons from the tree and making mud pies in the hot sun.

In the early 1960's, Lucretia and her family, joined by a new baby sister, Angela, immigrated to Chicago. Lucretia recalled being sick during the whole ocean voyage to New York from Italy. Lucretia's uncle Nick had asked his brother Michael to help him at his co-owned restaurant in Chicago called the Home Run Inn. Lucretia's parents were very good cooks who helped bolster the Home Run Inn name in Chicago.

Upon first arriving in Chicago Lucretia's cousins convinced her to try ice skating where she promptly broke her leg. Lucretia recalled while her leg was healing she watched a lot of television which she credited to her quick mastery of English.

A graduate of Lourdes Catholic High School in 1968, Lucretia’s intellectual curiosity guided her to the University of Illinois, where she graduated with honors in French. She spent a year abroad living with a French family. After graduating Lucretia decided being a French teacher would not bring her wealth. She went into the business world at various companies including IBM. Her pursuit of knowledge continued at DePaul University in Chicago, where she earned an MBA, equipping her with tools to excel in the world of business.

With an MBA Lucretia joined Western Electric in the late 1970's in the International division. She recalled visiting South Korea where AT&T was selling their flagship long distance switch called the 4ESS. One of Lucretia's biggest achievements was product manager for Lucent's (AT&T computer division) 3B2 computer. The 3B2 was a very popular computer. For over 23 years, Lucretia dedicated herself to a career with Western Electric, Lucent, NCR and AT&T. Lucretia always felt like a round peg in a square hole in the technical world but she persevered. Lucretia eventually was able to retire in 2001.

In 1991 Lucretia got married and soon had a daughter who became the main focus of her life even though she was still working. She filled her home with her many collections from around the world. She loved plants and flowers and she chose almost all the perennials which fill the yard. She and her husband Gary often visited Cantigny Park for inspiration.

Lucretia and her mother were very good cooks who often hosted Christmas and Thanksgiving. Both friend and stranger were assured of a warm welcome and delicious food. One of her favorite recipes was Braciole. Michelle and her friends would often eat pasta shells with butter after school.

Lucretia loved swimming and snorkeling, and when younger obtained her SCUBA certification. She often talked about swimming along the beaches of the Adriatic where the water was warm and clear and there were no waves. Although never a dog lover Lucretia inherited a small dog named Coco from her niece. Coco immediately adopted Lucretia and remained inseparable from her until Coco's passing. Coco would often ride on Lucretia's electric scooter even to doctor's visits and the grocery store.

She is mourned with deep affection by her beloved husband, Gary Klevesahl, who stood by her side, sharing in life’s most precious moments; by her devoted daughter, Michelle Klevesahl; and by the bright lights of her life, her grandchildren, Lena and Calvin, who will long carry forward the stories and spirit of their cherished grandmother. Her sister, Angela Novak, remains to remember her older sibling.

As we commemorate Lucretia’s extraordinary life journey, we celebrate the strong traits of family loyalty and the immigrant spirit of making a better life.

Though gone from our sight, Lucretia Aline Klevesahl lives on in the beauty she spread, the warmth she shared, and the love she so freely gave.