Geneva Hughes

Geneva Ophelia (Crane) Hughes, 96, of Winthrop Harbor, IL formerly of Chandler AZ, and Maricopa, AZ passed away at her home on October 3, 2026.

Geneva was born on February 17, 1930 in Itawamba County, Mississippi, the daughter of Joseph Delmar and Ollie Velma (McFadden) Crane. She graduated from high school and later in life attended college to further her career at Abbott where she worked in quality control and various other departments until her retirement. She was involved in Chandler quilting club, Toastmasters, Zion Senior Center, voting polls in Illinois and Arizona. She also volunteered at the fire department in Chandler, Az, and in a clown club in Chandler AZ. Geneva loved to crochet and make quilts. She also enjoyed dressing up as a clown for children at the Beach Park schools, and especially at her great-grandchildren's birthday parties. She was also very active in the schools and was a room mother in the 1960's for the Harbor School district.

She is survived by her children: Elizabeth Koch, Linda (Tim) Hughes, Joe Hughes, and Tim (Emmie) Hughes; grandchildren: Scott Miller, Tracey (Jeff) Hatcher, Michelle Koch, Matthew Gault, Melissa Gault, Melanie (Duane) Esquivel, Sally (Skip) Bluma, Andrea (Kevin) Munday, Joshua (Erica) Hatcher, and Madison Hughes; twenty-one great-grandchildren; seventeen great-great-grandchildren; sister, Juliour "Polly" Hamm; and many nieces and nephews.

Geneva was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Etoyce Wilemon, Darrell Crane, Eddie Crane, and James Crane; and her daughters, Patty Jean Hughes and Priscilla (Gault) Hughes.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m. at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Rd. Zion, IL. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park in Zion, IL.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or any cancer research.