Penna Jean Michalczyk

In loving memory of Penna Jean Michalczyk Penna Jean Michalczyk, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend to many, died peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at Westminster at Lake Ridge, Virginia, after enduring years of dementia. She was 94. Penna is survived by four children: Kerry Michelotti (Brian), Klaudia Spangler (Don), Tom Mackie (Trish), Jill Palermo (Rick), and son-in-law, Ron Diehl. She also leaves behind 10 grandchildren: Michael Diehl (Katie), Tim Diehl (Krista), Mindy Derrick (Adam), Anthony Michelotti (Laura), Hope Mayer (Ollie), Aidan Spangler, Mitchell Zullo, Jake Palermo (Becky), Rachel Palermo and Hannah Palermo. Penna also had eight great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and many friends. Penna was preceded in death by her husbands, Albert Michalczyk, who died in 2011, and Charles Mackie, who died in 1972; as well as her oldest daughter, Kimberli Diehl; her two siblings and her parents. Penna was born on Oct. 29, 1931, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Alfred and Ruth Johnson. She graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1949 and then moved to Chicago, where she completed training at Augustana Hospital, becoming a registered nurse. She worked as a nurse for more than 40 years at hospitals, Covenant Village retirement community in Northbrook, Illinois, and at a public elementary school. She retired in 1999 after serving as a nurse for an orthopedic practice in Libertyville, Illinois. Upon their retirement, Penna and Al lived for more than 20 years, from 2000 to 2021, in Sun City Rancho Vistoso, in Oro Valley, Arizona, where they enjoyed many years of golfing, traveling, spending time with their many friends and volunteering in their community and their church, Resurrection Lutheran. Penna moved to Northern Virginia in 2022 to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law, Jill and Rick Palermo. She found new friendships at Westminster at Lake Ridge, and a new companion in Monte Montgomery, a fellow resident there. The family extends our gratitude to all the staff at Westminster at Lake Ridge for providing her with gentle and compassionate care up until her final days. A private funeral and celebration of life will take place at Resurrection Lutheran in Oro Valley in the coming months.

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Penna Jean Michalczyk

August 5, 2026