Arlington Hts. teacher wove travels into curriculum

Lorraine B. Genovese ~ 1941-2007

Children in the primary grades at Spring Hill Elementary School in Roselle, lucky enough to have Lorraine B. Genovese as their teacher, learned more than reading and writing.

Mrs. Genovese loved to lace geography and travel into her social studies curriculum, weaving in interesting places she had visited and lived, to help bring the units alive.

"She'd relate the different states to experiences she'd had while traveling," said her youngest daughter, Deborah McGee of Cary. "She really wanted the students to be able to find the different states on the map."

Mrs. Genovese passed away Tuesday. The 39-year resident of Arlington Heights was 66.

At Spring Hill School, Mrs. Genovese taught children in first, second and third grades. She started her career there in 1984 as an aide before teaching full time from 1985 until her retirement in 2002.

"She just had a love of teaching and of being with the children," said her husband, John.

The couple met while Mrs. Genovese was teaching 5th grade at Barrington Middle School. They married in 1968, and moved to Arlington Heights, before Mrs. Genovese started attending Loyola University, where she earned a master's degree in curriculum. However, family members say Mrs. Genovese put her teaching career on hold while she raised their three children.

Her love of travel had its roots with her family. She was born in Chicago, but lived for a short time in Salt Lake City before her father was transferred back in 1960, to become head chef for United Airlines, when O'Hare International Airport opened.

Family members say Mrs. Genovese learned to cook from her father and mastered the Italian dishes from her husband's heritage.

"She was a wonderful cook," her husband said. "Everyone loved her spaghetti sauce."

In retirement, the couple had more time to spend with their children and grandchildren and they looked forward to the birth of their fifth grandchild in November.

Besides her husband and daughter, Mrs. Genovese is survived by another daughter, Barbara (Erik) Johnson of Bloomington, a son, Frank (Deborah) of Woodridge, and four grandchildren.

Visitation for Mrs. Genovese will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. today at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights, before a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass at St. James Catholic Church, 831 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights.