to Philip W. White and Matilda Louise Heldt White. She died on February 27,
2019 in Tucson, Arizona. She spent her first 61 years in Kankakee, Illinois. She
married Robert H. Schlenz (who was an Assistant Vice-President with The First
Trust and Savings Bank of Kankakee until 1976 - three years before his death) in
Kankakee in 1939 and they had 3 children. The twins, Thomas Robert Schlenz
and Joseph Leonard Schlenz were born in 1940 and Diane (Penny) Louise
Schlenz Hall was born in 1942. Pearl was a stay-at-home mom who was a great
cook and seamstress.
When her children started high school she trained to be an Illinois Bell
telephone operator and remained employed with Illinois Bell until her mother
became ill in 1968. Her mother died in 1969 and her father died in 1971. She and
Bob loved to travel and spend time with their children and grandchildren. They
rode their bicycles around Kankakee county for quite a number of years and
enjoyed other outside activities during the warmer months of the year.
She and Bob moved to Tucson, Arizona in the Fall of 1978 with their
daughter, Penny, (who was widowed in 1976) and their grandson, Jeff, who was
2 1/2 years old. Two months after settling in Tucson, Bob was diagnosed with
lung cancer and died in February 1979. Pearl volunteered at St. Cyril Church gift
shop and at the Diocesan Educational Ministries. She met Joe Sanculius and
they married in 1981. They enjoyed many family times and traveling and
attending Notre Dame University - Tucson Club events as Joe was an alum. Joe
was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died in 1993.
Pearl, one of the charter members of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, was a
faithful full-time volunteer in the Church office until age 92. She enjoyed traveling
and visits with family and friends and especially treasured the many fun times
with special friends including the Marquez and Petty families and her art class
friends. In such a long and fulfilled lifetime Pearl enjoyed many wonderful events
and celebrations and her own 100th Birthday Mass and reception at St. Thomas
Church in April 2017.
She is survived by sons, Joseph Leonard Schlenz (Barbara) of McHenry, Il,
Thomas Robert Schlenz (Denise) of Bartow, FL, and daughter, Diane L. (Penny)
Hall (Richard, deceased) of Tucson as well as 8 grandchildren: Jody Schlenz
Latowicz (Greg) of IL, Kelly Schlenz Cross (Steve) of IL, Aaron Schlenz (Susie)
of TX, Elizabeth Schlenz Gardner (Nathan) of UT, Jason Schlenz (Angie) of UT,
Laura Schlenz Deitz (Charlie) of IL, Jessica Schlenz Stong (Steve) of IA, and Jeff
Hall (Amy Janelle) of Tucson and twenty-six great-grandchildren. She made it a
point to send them all birthday cards each and every year.
At her request there will be no visitation. A funeral Mass will be celebrated in
Tucson at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in the Chapel on Saturday, March 23rd
at 10AM with cremains present. A celebration of life reception will follow in the
parish hall. Inurnment will be at East Lawn Cemetery in Tucson.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Pearl’s name to Casa De La Luz
Hospice, 7740 North Oracle Road, Tucson or Desert Dreams Adult Care Home,
2621 North Bahana Drive, Tucson.
Thank you to Susan and Jose and the extraordinary caregivers at Desert
Dreams and the excellent care of the Casa De La Luz staff. Your loving care will
forever be a wonderful memory. A memorial mass will be held for her on March 23, 2019 at 10:00 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 5150 N. Valley View Rd. Tucson, AZ. Pearl will be laid to rest at East Lawn Palms Cemetery, 5801 E. Grant Rd. Tucson, AZ.
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