Obituary of Jennie Adams

Jennie Adams, born Juanita Perez, (but lovingly called Me-Maw by all who knew her), of Zion, Illinois, went home to be with Jesus, her Lord and Savior, at the age of 86, on June 17th, 2021. Her family, whom she deeply loved and cared for, was greatly honored to “usher her into” the next great chapter of her life. Me-Maw was born in Waukegan, Illinois on June 24th, 1934. She attended school in Waukegan and Beach Park and graduated from Zion-Benton High School in 1952. She came to know Jesus in June of 1959, and raised her three children, Julie, David and Duane by reading them the Bible, praying for them and taking them to church. Early every morning, she would kneel by her bed and open her Bible and pray. Since then, her radio, whether in her kitchen or in her car, never left 90.1, Moody Radio. When the family could not be with her in the hospital due to covid, the next best thing was playing the familiar voices of Moody through a cell phone on her pillow. Jennie lived out the words, “Be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor will not be in vain.” She knew well that only two things last beyond this life- God’s Word and people-and she faithfully poured her entire life into both with all the zeal and passion she had- nothing she did was half-way. An extraordinary hostess, she used her amazing gift of hospitality until her final weeks of life. She cared for everyone she met with cards filled with encouragement, cups of coffee and oodles of banana bread and cookies. Even when leaving for the hospital, she insisted on having her correspondence and crocheting. She supported twelve different Christian organizations and was the embodiment of the widow’s mite, giving all she had for those she loved. For decades, countless people were blessed to be part of her Bible studies and prayer groups. And even now, if you peaked in the window of any room in her house, you’d see an open Bible on the table. No one left Me-Maw’s house without being fed, spiritually and physically, and oh how sweet were her words and everything that came out of her kitchen. Me-Maw had the tiniest feet, but left the biggest footprint on so many lives. Days before she passed, when asked what verse should we put on the wall, hardly able to speak, she said, “Jeremiah 33.3,” and so we wrote, “Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” We can only imagine what incredible things God was whispering to her those last few weeks as angels surrounded her and then took her home. “But God…” as she loved to say, “But God.” Survivors include her son David (Nina) Adams of Zion, IL, her son Duane Adams of Winthrop Harbor, IL; her brother Edward Perez of Winthrop Harbor, IL, and sister Delores (Perez) Karner of New Berlin, WI; four granddaughters, Candace (Roman)Timohkin, Olyvia (Quentin) Terry, Jillian Adams, and Natania (Junoh) Kim; and three great-grandchildren, Aria Jade, Manny, and Genevieve (Gennie); many more nieces, nephews and other family. Jennie was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Rosa Perez, her daughter Julie and son-in-law Steve, her brothers Joseph, Angelo, and Richard, and her sisters Julia, Linda, Helen, Theresa, Emily, and Rosie. A memorial celebration of her life will be held on the date of her almost 87th birthday, Thursday, June 24th, 2021, at New Song Ministries, 3010 31st Street, Zion, IL. Friends may greet the family starting at 4:30 until the service begins at 6:30pm.