Tamela Rea Alstedt Sagona

Tamela Rae Alstedt Sagona of Dahinda, IL, age 62, passed away on July 7, 2022 after a courageous fight with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Tammy fought hard, but the battle was suddenly insurmountable. She was surrounded with cherished family when she peacefully passed away. 

Tammy was born in Galesburg, grew up on a farm in rural Gilson, and was a life-long animal lover. As a youngster, she was an avid Union County 4-H Club member and won many Grand Championship awards for showing her prized Duroc hogs. A graduate of Knoxville High School class of 1977, she obtained her undergraduate degree at Illinois Wesleyan University, she achieved her master’s degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology from Illinois State University. With her kind heart and ready smile, she enjoyed a long career providing mental health and human services as a licensed clinical professional counselor, both for Bridgeway, Inc, and for the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services. Her abundant compassion and empathy moved her to be of service to those in need.

Tammy was creative and enjoyed many hobbies, including crafting, crocheting, stamping, scrapbooking, and photography. As a young girl, her love of all music lead to her enthusiasm for tap dance and acrobatics. She loved to bake, especially at her family’s annual Christmas Cookie Bake Party. A sweet girl, she had a special love of all things chocolate and ice cream. She prided herself in being the third generation cook of her family’s recipe for homemade chicken and noodles. Her unwavering faith in God shaped her love of Christmas, and her grateful spirit and love of family gatherings gave her a love of Thanksgiving. For Tammy, every moment spent with someone she loved was precious.

Of the many joys in Tammy’s life, her love of family was her greatest. She and her beloved husband, Steve, were lifelong friends; Steve was ring bearer for Tammy’s parent’s wedding. Friendship turned into love, and they happily married in 1985, with Steve’s cherished daughter Stephanie by their side. Their two sons, Michael and Matthew, arrived later and were her delight. Tammy and Stephanie loved their Girls’ Secret Outings to Dairy Queen. Tammy was the ultimate sports mom and attended as many of Michael’s cross-country races and Matthew’s basketball games as possible. Her pride in all of her children’s accomplishments beamed from her, and her sons were especially proud to be recognized as Tammy’s sons.

Tammy was much loved and is survived by her husband, Steve Sagona, children Michael Sagona, Matthew Sagona (Alex), and Stephanie Sagona Smith (Richard), by her sisters, Tracy Alstedt Robbins (Keith) and Morine Alstedt Goff (Brad), stepmother Ruth Alstedt, uncle Richard Hughes, and many more heartbroken cousins, family members, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Dianna Hughes Vollmar and Joel Lee Alstedt, and grandparents Morine Wolf Hughes & Eph Hughes, and Frances & Arthur Alstedt.

Graveside Service and Celebration of Life will be announced. Final arrangements entrusted to Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Homes & Crematory, Knoxville, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to please consider a donation in Tammy’s name to the Knox County Humane Society and may be sent to Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Home at 120 South Public Square, Knoxville, Illinois. On-line condolences and/or expressions of sympathy may be sent through www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com

“The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude.” ― Thornton Wilder