Paula Panfil

Paula Jahnke Panfil passed away on October 4, 2022, at the age of 65 with her immediate family at her side after an extended battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She is survived by her husband, Jerome R. Panfil, her daughter Jeanette S. Panfil, and her brother Craig S. Jahnke and his family.

Paula was born on July 1, 1957, in Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood. She attended Brenan Grammar School and James Hart Junior High School in Roseland and Homewood Flossmoor High School after her family moved to Glenwood, Illinois. She attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where she received her bachelor’s degree in Horticulture and received her master’s degree in Education from Chicago State University. Upon graduation, she began teaching at Argo Community High School in Summit, Illinois where she taught Special Education and then Sciences for 38 years. During the last few years of her teaching career, she also acted as the local Teachers Union President until her retirement.

Paula was a voracious reader and loved to knit and sew. She took great joy in gardening, enjoyed hiking with family and friends, photographing nature and wildlife, and savored traveling throughout the United States and all around the world. She was certified as a third degree black belt in Wado-Do KI Karate martial arts after years of practice. She was an excellent and adventurous chef in the kitchen and created numerous gourmet meals.

Memorial visitation will be held on October 27th at Orland Funeral Home 9900 W. 143rd Street, Orland Park, from 5 PM until 8 PM with Reflections from family and friends beginning at 6:30 PM

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in the memory of Paula J. Panfil to the Leukemia Research Foundation at https://leukemiarf.org/

Please note due to COVID-19 precautions no outside food will be permitted.