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Naomi E. Davidson

March 10, 1930 - January 26, 2014
Kankakee, IL

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Visitation

Friday, January 31, 2014
9:00 AM to 11:30 AM CST
Schreffler Funeral Homes
Kankakee Location
1900 W. Court St.
Kankakee, IL 60901
(815) 932-2421
Driving Directions

Service

Friday, January 31, 2014
11:30 AM to 12:00 PM CST
Schreffler Funeral Homes
Kankakee Location
1900 W. Court St.
Kankakee, IL 60901
(815) 932-2421
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

ASPCA

World Wildlife Federation

Life Story / Obituary


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Naomi E. Davidson was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother and a woman of her own making. She was salty and bold, sweet and insistent. She knew her mind and spoke it. She was a “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” kind of person. Naomi’s heart was huge for those who were closest to her, and she taught them how to laugh, love and be strong. Family was her deepest love and spending time with friends was always cherished.

Naomi was born just months after the U.S. stock market crash that sent the nation into economic depression. Yet families managed to make life pleasant by their resilient spirit and hopeful outlook. One such family in Bourbonnais, Illinois couldn’t have been happier at the time. Stanley and Beatrice Giasson welcomed their daughter Naomi into their hearts and lives on March 10, 1930.

The facts of Naomi’s life are straightforward. She married John Davidson on March 21, 1968 and had three children: Linda, Chuck and Dan. Together, John and Naomi owned and operated several successful businesses such as Elbert’s Resort in St. Germaine, Wisconsin, The Labor Temple in Kankakee, Illinois, Fireside Inn in Kankakee, Davidson’s Pub in Kankakee, and most recently, Davidson’s West restaurant on Rt. 17 in Kankakee. She liked dancing, big band and gospel music, Stephen King novels, word search puzzles, dramas such as Law and Order or anything starring Jack Nicholson, and she loved her Dalmatian Miss Katie and the Green Bay Packers.

However, the greater significance of Naomi’s life lays in the events that made her larger than life in the eyes of her family. “Here are their stories.”

o Some of the simple moments are the most cherished: Mom and I having long talks, eating fried chicken at Bill’s Diner and placing flowers and blankets on the graves of our loved ones at the cemetery. She was a loving mother and a sweet lady with a heart of gold. Her laugh and big wide grin were contagious. I knew she loved me when she stuck out her tongue at me or greeted me with puckered-up lips for a kiss.

o The first time I met Naomi, she had cooked a big dinner and when we sat down to eat, she raised a glass for a toast: “About d_____ time I met you, C.S.” She had my heart at that moment. From then on ours was a love-hate relationship: we loved different football teams who weren’t fond of each other—the Chicago Bears (mine) and the Green Bay Packers (hers).

o It was about 20 years ago when I was 13 or 14 that Grandma and I were coming back from the Mall. She was driving her Ford Tempo, going down Kennedy Drive in Bradley. I was messing with the radio changing it to rock music, and I was also talking to her so she was a little distracted. As we approached a stop light, she went right through the intersection without stopping. I told Grandma that she just blew the red light, and I could now see the red and blue lights of the Bradley police car in the rearview mirror. She ended up pulling into the parking lot of the businesses next to Burger King. The cop asked her, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” When she said yes, he then decided to give her a lecture about safety. Her reply was, “I don’t need a f____ sermon, just give me the d____ ticket!” And he did. Obviously, Grandma could get pretty POed.

o Gramma used to make the best spaghetti sauce. Every year on my birthday she made her famous meat sauce, and when my family came to see her, she would give it to me and we would take it home to eat. She always worried whether or not it was good, so we would call and tell her, “It was delicious.” I was also the only one in the family who supported the Packers with her. She loved and was loved…then, now and forever more.

o She always talked with her hands, even if they were holding a big, sharp knife. She taught us all how to duck, dodge and roll.

Some “Naomisms” from the family:

“Don’t touch the VCR, its receiving.”

“If you drink too much Gordon’s, take a Tylenol by the zink.”

“All right! Go Packers!” (pronounced “Peckers” on occasion)

“I gotta get some food in my belly.”

“You are never too old to kiss your Grandma.”

“Bite your tongue or I’ll cut it off.”

She always said she was “too bad, so the good Lord won’t have me and the Devil is too scared of me.” She was wrong. Naomi had the heart of an angel and is currently taking control of heaven.

Naomi E. Davidson, age 83 of Kankakee, Illinois, passed away on Sunday January 26, 2014 at ManorCare Nursing Home.

Naomi is survived by her husband, John Davidson of Kankakee (his tribute from A.K. Roswell is below), daughter, Linda (Doug) Grinstead of Hudson, IL, sons; Chuck (Glenda) McFall of Seminole, FL, Dan (Cheryl) McFall of Kankakee, her grandchildren and great grandchildren; brother Art Giasson of Bradley; sister Debra Meyer of Momence and sister in law Vicki Duszynski of Las Vegas, NV as well as many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Naomi was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Stanley Jr. and Robert Giasson, sister Susan Falter, and a granddaughter.

A time for family and friends to gather will be held at the Kankakee Chapel of Schreffler Lifestory Funeral Home, Friday January 31, 2014 from 10am until the 11:30am funeral service. Burial will be held at the Aroma Township Cemetery.

Donations are welcome in lieu of flowers to the ASPCA or World Wildlife Federation to honor her love of animals.

Should you go first and I remain to walk the road alone, I’ll live in memory’s garden, dear, with happy days we’ve known.

In spring I’ll wait for roses red, when fades the lilac blue, in early Fall, when brown leaves call I’ll catch a glimpse of you.

Should you go first and I remain for battles to be fought, each thing you’ve touched along the way will be a hallowed spot. I’ll hear your voice, I’ll see your smile, though blindly I may grope, the memory of your helping hand will buoy me on with hope.

Should you go first and I remain to finish with the scroll, no length’ning shadows shall creep in to make this life seem droll. We’ve known so much of happiness, we’ve had our cup of joy, and memory is one gift of God that death cannot destroy.

Should you go first and I remain, one thing I’d have to do; walk slowly down that long, lone path, for soon I’d follow you. I’ll want to know each step you take that I may walk the same, for some day down that lonely road you’ll hear me call your name. ………… A.K. ROSWELL

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