Taylor Cheyanne Tomazzoli, 21, of Cobden, died on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Cobden. Funeral services will follow, beginning at 2 p.m. at the church. Burial will be held in Cobden Cemetery. Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna is assisting the family.
Ms. Tomazzoli was born April 29, 1998, to former Hillsboro resident Paul "Zee" and Lisa (Charles) Tomazzoli, Jr. of Murphysboro.
She was a 2016 graduate of Cobden High School, where she excelled in both sports and academics. She served as captain of the volleyball and basketball teams and pitcher for the softball team. In volleyball and basketball, she was named most valuable player and made numerous all-conference, all-tournament and all-state teams.
Ms. Tomazzoli went on to play volleyball on scholarship at Rend Lake College, where she received two associate's degrees. She then attended Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market (SICCM), where she was studying to become a surgical technician. She had aspirations to become a first assistant in surgery.
She enjoyed volunteering at several local nursing homes, hiking, gardening, playing with her pup Lacy June and spending time with family and friends. She had a smile that would light up any room and never met a stranger. She was quick to offer encouragement to anyone in need and was mature beyond her years.
Ms. Tomazzoli is survived by her parents of Cobden; sisters, Haley Tomazzoli of Jonesboro and Sara Budslick of Brandon, MS; paternal grandparents, Paul and Barbara Tomazzoli, Sr. of Hillsboro; maternal grandfather, James Charles of Jonesboro; boyfriend, Derrick Whisenant; aunts and uncles, Sean and Michelle Tomazzoli of Germantown, Dawn and Dave Stewart of Buellton, CA, James Bradley Charles and Leslie Knapp, both of Cobden; and cousins, Kylie Coco, Alysha and Cassidy Charles, Matthew and Bradley Tomazzoli, Chase and Rece Schneider and Will, Jackson and Colton Stewart.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Phyllis Treece; and great-grandparents, Margaret and Carl Eddington.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Taylor Tomazzoli Scholarship Fund and/or Camp Little Giant at the Touch of Nature Environmental Center.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com.
