Dawn Stine

Dawn Renee Stine, 47, of Decatur, IL passed Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at St. Mary’s Hospital. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 am, Wednesday May 29, 2019 at Holy Family Catholic Church. Visitation Tuesday, May 28, 2019 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Brintlinger & Earl Funeral Home Decatur, IL. Burial will be in Boiling Springs Cemetery, Decatur, IL. There will be a luncheon following the burial at Holy Family Catholic Church. Dawn has two loving daughters, Jaden R. Stine, Decatur and Jaren D. Stine (fiance Jacob Maldonado), Decatur and her Granddaughter Elle Renee Maldonado. Dawn is the daughter of Floyd and Betty (Rutherford) Jones, Decatur. Brother Steven Jones, Decatur. Sisters Connie Grider (Donald), Gurnee and Jodi Wilkins (Scott “Truck”), Decatur. Nieces and Nephews: Vicki Herlingshaw (Phillip),,Danielle Nicole (Josh) Bentivegna, Tonya McElroy (Brandon), Aaron Lacey (Jen) and Austin B. Wilkins. Four great Nieces and great Nephews. Surrogate parents Greg and Sue Penderghest, Decatur. Many close friends that were family to Dawn. Preceded in death by her parents, brother and grandmother Lula Mae Ashby of Decatur. Dawn graduated from MacArthur High School in 1990. She was employed at Humpty Dumpty Child Development Center for 17 years and was currently employed at Kohl’s department store. Dawn and her children are members of Holy Family Church and frequented St. Thomas Catholic Church as well. Dawn battled Juvenile Diabetes. She was currently receiving dialysis and was approved one day prior to her death for a kidney and a Pancreas. The morning of her death, she had difficulty breathing and calapseed. She was unable to be resuscitated. Her untimely death has been devastating on her family and friends. Dawn was not perfect. Dawn would say words out of her mouth as they came to mind, bypassing a filter. She was opinionated and sassy. When she got mad, she was a doozy. Once you got her angry, you’d better watch out. She was also there if you needed her. She was always willing to help others. She would share her last dollar with you. She had a very kind and caring side to her. If you were lucky enough to be close to Dawn, you were able to see a softer side of her. She loved sarcastic comments and funny sayings. Loved saying “suck it up buttercup”. She was always ready to wrestle with you or give you a hug. She loved laughing and spending time with her girls and friends, Dawn grew up in Decatur and seemed to know everyone. She loved to talk about stories growing up and her siblings. She definitely had many stories of tormenting her older sister Jodi and their crazy times they had together. Sometimes Jodi and Dawn would fight like cats and dogs, and other times they were loving sisters. Dawn knew growing up, she may fight with her sister, but her sister always had her back. Dawn and her girls enjoyed many outings and vacations across the country with her oldest sister Connie. This included long car trips together and staying in wonderful locations. She loved going downtown Chicago during Christmas time, Florida, Mackinac Island and many others. Dawn lost her mother when she was younger. She said I know I got my attitude from her. Losing her mother was so difficult for Dawn. She became even closer with her father. Dawn lit up when he walked in the room. She would laugh every time he called for her at work, asking for Dawn “Stines”. She definitely was a daddy’s girl and spoke of him constantly, even though his passing was many years ago. When her father died, she had dug down deep to find the strength needed to be there for her girls. Her dad meant so much to her. Dawn’s family included her friends. Dawn loved being on the beach and wearing flip flops. Many great family vacations with her family of friends. Watching all the kids in the pool and the adults enjoying the rays of the sun. Dawn enjoyed cookouts, laughing with friends and being on the boat during the summer. She especially loved Christmas Eve at her extended family of the Sassano’s. This always included Christmas movies (A Christmas Story), baked Ziti (her favorite), matching pajamas and one early Christmas gift. She also enjoyed going to the movies, Dawn always tried to show a tough exterior, but would cry at every sad movie and hallmark commercial. Although Dawn was employed, she considered her main purpose and job in life was to be a mother. Dawn dedicated her life to her two daughters Jaden and Jaren. Dawn was a single parent and always put her daughters first. Dawn was definitely a “Mama Bear”. She protected her girls and always stood by their side. She always said “if you mess with me that is one thing, but if you hurt my girls, that is another”. The amount of courage Dawn showed as she raised her girls was truly amazing. Her oldest daughter Jaden has special needs. Dawn always fought for Jaden’s rights and ensured she was given the best environment she could have. Jaden battled so many health issues and Dawn always advocated for her. The two of them were inseparable. Having a child that is severely disabled is challenging for all parents and especially a single parent. Jaden graduated from the Severe and Profound Special Education Program at MacArthur High School a few weeks ago. This was such a proud moment for Dawn. She laughed as Jaden fought to take her graduation cap off while being called on the stage. Jaden definitely had Dawn’s attitude and found her own ways to show it. Although Jaden is not verbal, the connection between Jaden and Dawn went beyond any spoken words. Jaren, Dawn’s youngest daughter, was definitely a “mini-me” for Dawn, She loved Jaren to the moon and back. She saved every dollar she had to ensure she experienced summer camps, broadway shows, and every activity Jaren wanted to participate in. Growing up, Jarbear gave Dawn a run for her money. She definitely had the same sass as her mother. Being a single parent, Dawn was so close to Jaren and knew she had to be her mother and father at the same time. Dawn loved watching Jaren grow into a beautiful young lady, but she still was always Dawn’s little girl. Jaren was Dawn’s princess. Dawn was blessed with such close relationship with her daughter Jaren. Jaren was always such an enormous help taking care of Sissy (Jaden). Jaren is an amazing caregiver for her older sister and is mature beyond her years in caring for the special needs of her sister. It could be singing loud songs together or laughing watching movies, Jaren and Dawn had a friendship, many mothers and daughters would dream to have. She was so proud of Jaren and was amazed by the best gift Dawn ever received. Jaren made Dawn a grandmother, this was the greatest gift of Dawn’s life.. Dawn became a Grandmother on April 17, 2019. When Elle Renee Maldonado was born. It is impossible to capture in words the joy becoming a “Gigi” as Dawn called it, meant to her. In fact, she had posted on facebook at 2:22 am, just hours before her death, an image saying “Grandkids make life grand”. Dawn said there is no feeling like being a grandmother. She radiated happiness when holding her “buder but”. The same words she used when holding Jaren as a baby. Dawn was so excited to become a grandmother. This gave Dawn a light in her soul she never had before. Dawn was blessed to be with her family long enough to watch Jaden graduate, the birth of her grandchild and to see Jaren find happiness with Jacob and start a family. Dawn believed in God and accepted Jesus Christ as her savior. She had a good heart, filled with love for her family and friends. Dawn always called herself an Angel. Of course this was followed by many laughs from others. Now we know it is true. Dawn was an amazing unique person and now has become an Angel. She is loved by so many and will always have a special place in our hearts. "
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