Tanya Stanfield, 79, of Florence, AL, died Monday October 13, 2025. She was born in 1946, establishing her formative years in Zagreb, Croatia.

Tanya immigrated to the United States from Zagreb in 1969. She lived in the Chicagoland area initially and settled into her first home in Mount Prospect in 1972. Attending the University of Illinois Chicago she earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. During her career she held various positions performing food quality and safety testing. She also taught high school chemistry after earning her teaching certification at the University of Wisconsin.

Tanya lived in Illinois, Wisconsin, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Alabama throughout her life. Prior to retirement she greatly enjoyed traveling. She visited numerous destinations throughout New England, Canada, and the East Coast. She was an ardent fan of Erma Bombeck, the humorist author. Tanya chronicled her journeys of a nearly one year long road trip while channeling her inner Bombeck. In her pastime she took pride in her knitting and quilting abilities.

Most of all Tanya is greatly loved and dearly missed by her family.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

Tanya was preceded in death by her husband Nick Jagatic, father Mihajlo Redzic, mother Ruža Redzic, and former husband Edward DeKnight.

She is survived by her son Tom (Sarah) Jagatic; daughter Tiffany (Julia) Geisler; and grandchildren Nicholas Jagatic, Amelia Jagatic, Gabrielle Jagatic, Patrick Geisler.

A private graveside service will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at All Saints Cemetery, 700 N River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to both Preferred Hospice and Mitchell-Hollingsworth for their compassionate care.