Published on May 28, 2025 3:30 pm
Last Updated on May 28, 2025 3:30 pm
Geneva Ann LaGrand, 79, of Effingham, IL, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at Lakeland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Effingham, IL.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Burial will follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Moccasin Township. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service on Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the animal shelter of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be shared
at www.johnsonandsonsfh.com.
Geneva was born on December 7, 1945, in Paris, IL, the daughter of Millard and Estella Ann (Crawley) Pigg. She married James C. LaGrand on December 9, 1967, and they shared 45 years together until his passing on December 14, 2012. Geneva worked at Sacred Heart School and Church as a custodian alongside her husband James for many years. Before that they worked at Illinois Glove Factory. She always enjoyed the work she did and even more that she was doing it with the love of her life. Geneva had a deep love for the outdoors, and she was almost always outside. She found great joy in caring for her yard and tending to her flowers and garden. She loved sitting outside just watching all the animals and admiring her hard work. The patio was her favorite place to sit and visit with family and enjoy a glass of sweet tea. She also loved fishing, hunting and camping with her family. We know that she is now in heaven, fishing once again with her best friend and son. Geneva had a strong love for the Lord, which guided her life and gave her strength through all seasons. Her faith, warmth, and quiet strength left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.
She is survived by her sisters, Darlene McDowell and Linden Newlin; her children from a previous marriage; her stepsons, Jim and Jeff LaGrand; and her beloved grandchildren, Brandon, Brittany, Amanda, Justin, Cheyenne, Seneca, Ashton and Clay. She was also blessed with fourteen greatgrandchildren, Whitney, Tia, Adley, Brynnlee, Mila, Jasper, Gina, Joplin, Nate, Tyler, Grayson, Ariana, Dejah and Jakobe. Geneva is also survived by her in-laws, Anita and Karl, and the rest of their wonderful family, who held a special place in her heart and helped her so much after losing James. She is also survived by a great family friend Matt Viverito and his family. He was always there if she ever needed anything. She will be especially missed by her faithful little dog, Buster Brown. We will be spoiling him and snuggling him until you meet again.
Geneva was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James C. LaGrand; and her son, Millard LaGrand and daughter-in-law, Gina LaGrand.