Arlington Heights woman dies after fire

After 96 days in Loyola University Hospital's burn unit, Diana Lynn Davajon of Arlington Heights passed away peacefully, with her husband by her side.

"She had a tremendous will to live," George Davajon said. "But in the end, the infections were just too much."

She suffered burns in a Nov. 13 fire in their second-floor condominium. Mrs. Davajon had lived in Arlington Heights for more than 35 years, after growing up on a farm in downstate Blandinsville. She was 67.

Before the couple met, Mrs. Davajon had a successful career as the assistant banquet manager at Allgauer's on the Riverfront in Northbrook, where she worked closely with members of the Allgauer family.

"She started with us shortly after we opened in 1973 and she was a big part of our success," said Frank Allgauer. "She was very personable and a real go-getter."

As an event planner, she helped arrange special-occasion banquets at the restaurant, including weddings, bar mitzvahs and anniversary parties, as well as seasonal events for the different holidays.

"Planning the weddings were her favorite," her husband says.

Having spent her formative years on her family's farm, Mrs. Davajon brought her warm personality along with her knowledge of foods and cooking to her catering role.

Mrs. Davajon worked at Allgauer's for more than 10 years, from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.

Allgauer's is located within the Hilton Chicago Northbrook, and when the Hilton opened in Lisle, the Allgauer family opened a restaurant and bar there. They tapped Mrs. Davajon to help get the banquet side up and running.

"She was an excellent cook," George Davajon said. "That's one of the first things we realized we had in common ... our love of cooking."

The couple met in 1977 and married in 1983. In recent years, Mrs. Davajon had retired from the banquet business to spend more time tending their home together.

She had a flair for decorating, her husband said, and she loved to garden. Although they lived in a condominium complex and she had no backyard plot to cultivate, she developed a vibrant container garden on their balcony.

"It was award-winning," her husband says. "She took second place in a village garden contest they held."

The couple had no children but instead enjoyed animals, caring for their cats adopted from the Buddy Foundation in Arlington Heights.

"She was the love of my life," her husband says. "She was funny and outgoing, and she loved to have company and entertain. She just smiled all the time."

Funeral services have already been held.