CYNTHIA J. WOLF

Cynthia Wolf, 89, of Aurora, Illinois, passed away on Monday, April 15, 2024, surrounded by the love of her family. Cynthia was born on October 31, 1934, to Elmer and Adeline Burkland (nee Twait) in Aurora, Illinois.

As a young girl, Cynthia attended Freeman Elementary School in Aurora, Illinois, and later graduated from West Aurora High School, Class of 1952.  While attending West Aurora, Cynthia met Roger Wolf, who had moved into the district to play football. After Roger graduated in 1951, he left for the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.  When Cynthia graduated from high school a year later, she studied art at Wheaton College. Their love for each other couldn’t keep Cynthia and Roger apart, so after two years, Cynthia left Wheaton College to marry Roger and prepared to start a family.

Cynthia and Roger were married on April 25, 1954, at Cynthia’s childhood home in Aurora, Illinois. In October 1955, Cynthia gave birth to her first son, Steven. Russell was born in 1958, and Ken was born in 1961. 

Cynthia was active in the Aurora Junior Women’s Club (AJWC), utilizing her artistic talent and doing makeup for the annual children’s play.  She also served as a model in AJWC’s annual fashion show fundraiser and other charity fashion shows in Aurora and modeled for various local businesses. Cynthia loved to learn and was a talented painter, often choosing subjects from her travels. She also took gourmet cooking classes and loved experimenting with culinary dishes. 

Roger and Cynthia were a team from the beginning and remained so for life. He built houses and she would show up with meals at the jobsite.  They both worked long hours. When they purchased Valley Green Golf Course in 1973, Cynthia helped by leading the women’s golf leagues and managing the clubhouse.

When Steve and Cindy gave Cynthia her first grandchild, she was delighted. Although she became a grandmother at 39, she was lovingly known as “Granny.” Even though she seemed too young to be a grandmother, the name stuck, and Cynthia embraced it.

It was only a matter of time before more grandchildren were born. Cynthia loved to dote on her granddaughters, dressing them in beautiful dresses from her modeling days. She did everything to teach them how to be poised little ladies. Cynthia and Roger were always available to watch their grandchildren. When referring to her granddaughters, Cynthia once said, “I had three boys so that I could have my girls later.”  She loved her grandchildren dearly and always looked forward to their visits.

Cynthia and Roger loved to travel, and they traveled the world together starting in the early 1970s with an Alumni group for the University of Illinois. They visited Europe, Egypt, Africa, Israel, Australia, and Russia. In 1998, Cynthia and Roger purchased land and built another golf course named Wolf Run, which they owned and operated until 2010.

In 2016, Cynthia and Roger moved into Sugar Grove Senior Living, where they were able to live independently. Cynthia could make friends anywhere she went and made many lifelong friendships while living in Sugar Grove.

Cynthia and Roger stayed in Sugar Grove until 2022 when their health began to decline, and they moved to Asbury Gardens in North Aurora. The following year, Roger was called home by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Nearly a year and one month after Roger passed, Cynthia was also called to her Heavenly Home. They are now together again for eternity.

Cynthia was resilient, patient, kind, poised, pleasant, and constantly engaged in conversation!  She loved to get to know people.  She will be remembered by many for being a great friend and confidant. She always made the best of any situation she found herself in. She will be missed immensely by her family and many cherished friends. 

Cynthia is survived by her three sons; Steve (Cindy) Wolf, Russell (Gayle) Wolf, and Ken (Bobette) Wolf. Her six grandchildren; Jay (Brandy) Wolf, Christa Wolf, Andrew (Krista) Wolf, Meghan (Justin) Hill, Amanda (Jordan) Fix, and Kate (Stefan) Keir, her ten great-grandchildren, her brother-in-law, Rex Wolf, many cherished nieces and nephews, and a whole family of friends.

Cynthia has been reunited with her parents; Elmer and Adeline Burkland, her husband of 69 years, Roger Wolf, her sister, Sylvia Blakeman, and her half-sister, June Burns.

A graveside service in honor of her memory will be held on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Kaneville Cemetery in Kaneville, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Cynthia’s name at Asbury Gardens. Checks may be made to Asbury Gardens and mailed to 210 Airport Rd North Aurora, IL 60542, in care of Sue Ahlgren. Please note “Cynthia Wolf Memorial” in the memo line of the check. Tributes may be directed to the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.

A graveside service in honor of her memory will be held on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Kaneville Cemetery in Kaneville, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Cynthia’s name at Asbury Gardens. Checks may be made to Asbury Gardens and mailed to 210 Airport Rd North Aurora, IL 60542, in care of Sue Ahlgren. Please note “Cynthia Wolf Memorial” in the memo line of the check. Tributes may be directed to the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.