Obit: Fortuna, Christine A. (1915 - 2013)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Fortuna, Cerne, Dornik, Smith, Gregorich

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 02 Oct 2013

Fortuna, Christine A. (3 AUG 1915 - 23 SEP 2013)

Christine A. Fortuna, 98, Willard, died on Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, at the Neillsville Retirement Community. A gathering of family and friends took place from 9-11:30 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 28, at Cuddie Funeral Home, Greenwood. Following the burial of cremains in the Willard Cemetery, a luncheon was served at the Greenwood American Legion Hall.

Christine Ann Cerne was born on Aug. 3, 1915, in Mulberry, Kan., the daughter of Michael Sr. and Louise (nee Dornik) Cerne. When she was a small child, her family moved to Willard, where she was raised and received her education at North Mound School. As a young lady, Christine moved to Chicago, where she worked in a hospital for a couple years. She married Louis Fortuna Sr. on June 9, 1945, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Willard. They, along with her brother, Joe, purchased the Lakeside Tavern in Rock Dam, and ran it for a couple years. After selling the tavern, they bought the Fortuna family farm in Willard, and farmed until 1965 or 1966. Christine resided in her Willard home until moving to the Neillsville Retirement Community in 2011. She was a member of the Slovenska Druzba Club, and had many interests, but especially loved gardening, traveling and reading.

She will be dearly missed by her four children, Eugene (Doris) Fortuna, Weatherby Lake, Mo., Donna (Doug) Smith, Chappel Hill, Texas, Charlotte (Roy) Gregorich, Willard, and Louie (Jill) Fortuna, Greenwood; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; four step-grandchildren; 11 step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Christine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Louis, in 1973; four brothers, Michael, Joseph, Frank, and one in infancy; and two sisters, Stephanie Cohara and Mathilda "Tillie" Podrovitz.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Cuddie Funeral Home, Greenwood, assisted the family with arrangements.