Gail Paoli Greene, 67, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 4 surrounded by her family.

Gail was born on March 13, 1956, to Charles and Kay Paoli in Monticello, Illinois. She grew up with older brother Mark, and younger brothers, Steve and Chris.

Gail studied French at the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign. She was a devout Illini fan and a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. Her bond with the “Pi Phi sisters” was a lifelong influence and a source of pride.

After graduation, Gail moved to Chicago and earned her MBA at DePaul University. She excelled in the Harris Bank management training program, and it kickstarted a rewarding career in banking and credit management. She always spoke fondly of her career and the friends she made along the way.

In 1978, while living in Chicago, Gail met Mike on a blind date - a set up by her sorority sister, Mary. Gail and Mike went on to get married in 1981 and have two children, Ryan and Kara. They were her pride and joy and defined her true purpose in life.

Gail left banking to raise the family and, in 2019, she retired from working part-time for Northwestern Medicine. She and Mike moved to Arizona to enjoy the valley of the sun and be closer to Ryan in Santa Monica, CA and Kara in Scottsdale, AZ. She loved to spend her days walking Cherry, the family’s beloved golden retriever, relaxing at the pool, socializing with her friends and playing bocce. With Mike’s encouragement, she was willing to give golf a try, but never quite perfected her pickleball skills.

Gail’s health journey was never easy, but she was a fighter. She survived esophageal cancer, brain cancer and its residual effect, epilepsy. After a heroic fight to overcome severe pneumonia, her body was too weak to fend off complications from a bacterial infection. Her family knew it was her time to go home to Heaven.

Gail was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Kay Paoli. She is survived by husband Mike, and her children Ryan and Kara Greene.

A celebration of Gail’s life will be held at the Cantigny Golf Course in Wheaton, IL from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 23.

The family requests any donations in Gail’s honor be made to The National Epilepsy Foundation (epilepsy.com) or the HonorHealth Foundation’s Nursing Excellence Fund (honorhealthfoundation.org) Gail’s nurses were filled with compassion and never sought personal recognition. Their commitment to her care made Gail’s life better.

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