Velinda Vera Hookanson nee Faraci, of Glenview; died January 2, 2020 in Park Ridge, IL. She is survived by her husband and soulmate of 38 years James Hookanson, Jim's sister (Carolyn and Thomas Davies, and brother Thomas Hookanson, her nieces and nephew: Tressina, Colleen, and Nikki Faraci, Elisabeth and John Schuh, Sarah and Scott Miller, Laura and Doug Wood, Heather and Lenny Sersen, Patrick and Linda Davies, Gust and Jen Hookanson, dearest cousins Stephen Kohuth, Donna Berlinger Mercier, Debra Chirchirillo Czaplicki, David Baur, sister-in-law Josephine Faraci and countless cousins, 2nd cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Rose (nee Chirchirillo) Faraci, her brother Andrew, and beloved cousins Anne Marie Krader (nee Chirchirillo), Chris Chirchirillo, Thomas Berlinger and Jims's sister Patricia (nee Hookanson) and Carl Lenca.

Linda was born June 27, 1946 in Chicago Illinois. She attended Niles West High School, and worked 25 years for Dominick’s Finer Foods, retiring in 2000. In the past few years, Jim and Linda divided their time between their home in Glenview and Vashon Island, Washington. “Dee Dee” was devoted to her husband and family (the BEST family, in her opinion) and enjoyed celebrating every birth, graduation and wedding. She loved babies, music, Christmas, the Cubs, cooking, her garden and animals, and was extremely anti-war. Linda was caring, selfless, charitable, compassionate beyond measure and always up for a party. She made a great sandwich. She reminisced often about growing up with her big Italian family and called to “touch down” and check on everybody. You were certain to have a good day if Linda was around. She touched many lives with her free spirit and loyalty to her family.

Memorial Mass, February 22, 2020, 10:00 am at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview. Cremation was private. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Velinda’s name to australiawildfirefund.org/ or unicef.org