Jainamma A. Palavilayil

Jainamma (Jane, Jaya) Palavilayil was born in the city of Kollam on October 14, 1944 in the state of Kerala in the Country of India to her parents Patriciamma and Peter Fernandez. She was the sister of three brothers, Jerome Pethirukutty, P.P. John (deceased), and P.P. Jesudasyan (deceased); and three sisters, Aleyamma Jackson (deceased), Margaret George (deceased) and Mariamma Thankappan (deceased).

She passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 16, 2019. Jainamma is survived by her husband Alexander Chacko, daughter Julie Alexander, son Rajee Alexander, daughter-in-law Meredith Rosenberg-Alexander, son Prince Alexander, and daughter-in-law Amy Alexander. Jainamma is also survived by her brother Jerome Pethirukutty, sister-in-law Therisamma Pethirukutty, nieces Tessy Eapen and Thelma John, nephew Tony Jerome, and numerous family members in India.

In 1965, Germany had an urgent need for healthcare workers and recruited around the world.  This program was also brought to India for recruitment, and Jainamma came to Germany to learn nursing and work in the hospital system there along with a fellow group of women from Kerala. 

In 1970, Chicago also had an urgent need for healthcare workers and recruited this group of women from Kerala to work in Chicago.  In 1972, Jainamma married her husband Alexander P. Chacko who was from the city of Adoor, in the state of Kerala in India.

Jainamma worked as a mental health counselor in the hospital system of Chicago (St. Elizabeth, St. Anne’s) and her husband worked in the Chicago Transit Authority managing the rail system. They raised 3 children while both working - Prince, Rajee, and Julie Alexander. They lived first in Chicago and moved to Elmhurst, Illinois in 1987 to their then new home where she has lived ever since.  She successfully helped her three children through college and into professional jobs.  While doing this, she loved to participate in church activities, garden, read and travel. 

Jainamma retired in 2003 whereupon she focused on her children, her extended family in India, and her church, St. Gregorios Orthodox Church. She was very active in the church and bible study where she won awards for her essays on her strong beliefs in God and Jesus Christ.

She taught us the values of hard work and dedication to family.  She was very thoughtful, generous, and truly cared about others.  She was highly regarded by the members of her church.  Jainamma’s family is very happy that she got to watch her family expand and that she lived a full life with her devotion and praise to God and Jesus Christ.

“In memory of our Mom, we would like to thank all her friends and neighbors who supported her through her years. We also want to express our gratitude toward all the honorable Thirumenes and Achens who spent time with our mother. Mom, we lay you to rest, and you worked so hard and are so kind. We thank you for your life and dedication. We know you will be joyous in Heaven. We love you Mom.”

Visitation will be held Sunday, July 21, 2019 from 4:00pm until 8:00 pm at St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, 905 South Kent Avenue, Elmhurst, Illinois.  Funeral Service will take place on Monday, July 22, 2019 at 8:30am at St. Gregorios Orthodox Church. Burial will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.  

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