Pauline L. Fischer

Pauline L. Fischer, 82, of Machesney Park, Illinois passed away peacefully on April 3, 2024. She was born in Beloit, Wisconsin on February 19, 1942, to Paul and Madeline (Mason) Amundson, but moved to Rockford, Illinois at an early age.

She is survived by her daughter, Erica (Jeffrey) Carabelli; and son, Andrew (Heather) Fischer; her grandchildren, Jordan, Benjamin, Julia, and Hannah; brother-in-law, Larry Ferraro; sister-in-law, Diane Amundson-White; aunt, Jan Mason; numerous nieces and nephews; many cousins;  and several good friends. She is predeceased by her loving husband of 53 years, Leon Fischer; her parents, Paul and Madeline;  brothers, Peter and Paul Joseph; and sister, Kathryn.  

Pauline graduated from Muldoon Catholic High School in 1960, and went on to earn degrees from Quincy College, Rockford College, and National Louis University. She was an elementary school teacher in the Rockford Catholic Diocese and in the Rockford Public Schools for over 30 years. Pauline started the All-Day Kindergarten programs in both the Rockford Public Schools and in the Rockford Dioceses in the 1980’s. Later in life she was elected to, and served on, the Harlem School Board and was the driving force behind the creation of Parker Early Education Center. She was very passionate about early education and was a very dedicated teacher who loved her students. 

In 1997 she was the Illinois State Board of Education’s “Those Who Excel - Teacher of the Year” for her work in the classroom and for developing early education programs. Her professional life had a significant positive impact on our local community.  

In her retirement, she loved spending time with her grandchildren, reading to and with them, going out to restaurants, watching Netflix, listening to music on her Alexa, and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoyed crocheting and loved making baby blankets. She loved her family, friends and her dog, Oz, and she brought joy and love to everyone who knew her. She considered her biggest accomplishment in life was being a mother. She had a very strong Catholic faith. Above all, she was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was the strong-willed matriarch of the family, and she will be dearly missed. This last year, after losing her husband Leon, her health issues made life difficult for her.  She passed away exactly one year after Leon’s passing, a true testament to their love and commitment. 

Funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at St. Bridget Catholic Church, 600 Clifford Ave., Loves Park, IL 61111, at 11:00 AM, with a visitation starting at 10:00 AM until time of mass. Burial will immediately follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Machesney Park, IL. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Bridget Catholic Church. 

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