Charlene Joy "Grammy" Illg

Charlene Joy "Grammy" Illg passed away Thursday, February 8, 2024, in Durango. She was 88 years old. A Funeral Service will be held Friday, February 16, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., at Hood Mortuary Chapel. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery. 

Charlene was born March 7, 1935, to David Austin Turner and Caroline Amelia Russell in Johnson City, New York. She grew up in Vestal, NY and attended schools there. Early jobs included Lyric Theater and IBM in Endicott, NY. She met and later married her husband, Arthur, on November 2, 1958 in Johnson City. Arthur was a partner with his parents at Elks Bake Shop in Endicott and Charlene assisted with tasks at the shop. The family business was successful and provided an excellent standard of living for the family. Charlene also worked at Wegman's Grocery Store and was known as "the Cookie Lady", giving tours to school groups. She moved to Durango in 2014 to be closer to family.

Charlene loved horses, her horse Sandy, reading and soaking up our mountain sun. Her favorite food was her mother-in-laws onion pie (Zwiebel Kuchen).

She is survived by her son, Todd (Monique) Illg, grandson: Daniel, sisters-in-law: Barbara Turner of Binghamton, NY, & Alice Borning of Manlius, NY, and many extended family. 

She is preceded in death by her husband: Arthur, her parents, her son: Charles, a brother: Daniel Turner, and brother-in-law: Carl Borning.