HARTFORD - Lavona Charlene Force Kessinger Younger Nizinski, 94, died at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2014, at VIP Manor-Wood River.
Lavona was born August 15, 1920 in Conception Junction, Mo. to Arthur Christopher and Mary Edna (Young) Snowden. She was the eighth of nine children born to them, two of which died at a very young age.
Lavona who was known as Vona, met a young man named Vernon Norbit Force in her teen years and out of their union a son named Vernon Norman Force was born in Edwardsville but Norman's father died before he was born and Vona then a widow had to find work to support herself and her son. She took her son and went to stay with her parents in MO until he was old enough for her to come back to IL where relatives lived and she could find work to support them.
Upon finding work at the Hartford Tannery and then Olin "Matheson" she brought Norman to stay with her in Hartford. She met Herb Kessinger and they were married for a short time then divorced. She then met Willard Buford Younger who was in the Army at the time and they married. He was stationed in the state of Washington and it was there that their daughter Marilyn Lavon Younger was born in Tacoma. Some years later they divorced and Vona moved to Madison, IL where her brother Wendell Snowden lived. Wendell helped Vona and her children find a place to live along with Vona's mother Mary. Vona found work at a launder mat and then at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis. Vona had never driven so when they hired her they asked how she would get to work, her reply was "you give me a job and I will get here" and she did. She found a friend named Margie Murphy who Vona rode to work with.
While living in Madison Vona met and married Leo John Nizinski on January 22, 1955. They had two sons, Darrell and Donald Nizinski. To be closer to his work at the Illinois Terminal Railroad office, Leo moved his family to Hartford where Darrell and Donald grew up. Darrell and his dad Leo later died of cancer and Vona stayed in her home until she could no longer live on her own. After residing in several nursing homes, she finally moved to VIP Manner in Wood Rive and was there for the last four years of her life. She had a wonderful roommate Linda, sent by God, she cared and looked after Vona until her death. Vona also had a very compassionate care giver named Linda who took wonderful care of her and was there on Von's last day.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn L. and Don Prickett of Hartford; two sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Sheri Nizinski of South Roxana and Vernon and Sheila Force of Bismarck, Mo.; six grandchildren, Tim and Melissa Prickett, Melissa and Jerry Lakin, Krista and Brendan St. Peters, Michael (Anna Hood) Nizinski, Nicholas and Flonnie Nizinski, Spencer Force; six great-grandchildren, Scott and Bettie Prickett, Alex Prickett, Mason St. Peters, Kaylie St. Peters, Piper Nizinski, Easton Nizinski; two great-great grandchildren, J. R. Prickett, Abigail Prickett.
Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Darrell Nizinski; two grandchildren, Christopher Nizinski and Christina Nizinski; seven siblings.
A celebration of Vona's life will be from 5:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Gray Funeral Home in Wood River.
Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 19 at Gray Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Gray officiating.
Burial will be at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.
Memorials may be given to Back-Stopper – PO Box 795168, St. Louis, MO 63179