Benucia (nee Stainhaus) Abdullah, lovingly known to all as Lucy, was born on August 20, 1935, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. She was a woman whose life was defined by love, strength, courage, generosity, and an open heart that welcomed everyone who crossed her path.

Lucy was the kind of person people never forgot. She loved deeply, gave freely, and possessed a rare gift for making everyone feel like family. Her door was always open to her children and grandchildren, neighbors, friends, and the many neighborhood children who grew up coming in and out of her home. She believed no one should ever feel alone or hungry, and because of her, no one ever did.

She was gifted in every sense. Lucy was an exceptional cook whose meals brought people together around her table. She sewed with remarkable skill, knitted with care, and seemed to know how to do just about everything. Yet more than her many talents, it was the love behind them that made her extraordinary. Every meal prepared, every stitch sewn, and every quiet act of service was an expression of her devotion to others.

In 1961, Lucy married Abed Abdullah. That same year, while pregnant with their first child, they made the courageous decision to leave Brazil and move to the United States in pursuit of a better life for their growing family. Guided by faith, determination, and hope, they embraced a new country and built a life rooted in perseverance and sacrifice. Together, they raised six children, creating a home grounded in strong values, deep family bonds, and unconditional love.

Lucy’s life was a testament to quiet strength and unwavering devotion. A devout Catholic, her faith guided the way she lived, loved, and cared for others. Through every challenge, she remained a source of warmth and stability as a devoted mother who nurtured, a grandmother who comforted, and a woman whose home became a refuge for many. Her kindness extended far beyond her family, touching neighbors, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to know her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Abed Abdullah, who passed in 1983, her beloved daughter Aziza Abdullah, who passed in 1999, and her parents, Antonio and Adolfina (nee Herber) Stainhaus.

Lucy leaves behind a powerful legacy of kindness, compassion, courage, resilience, and unconditional love, carried forward through generations. She is survived by her son Dr. Bruce (Kathleen nee Micaletti) Abdullah, daughter Samantha (Greg Solecki) Jaber, daughter Susan (Nick) Necak, daughter Asmahn “Jackie” (Dominic) Presta, and daughter Elizabeth (Jimmy) Torres.

She also leaves behind her grandchildren,  Isabella Abdullah, Elyssa Abdullah, Alexander Jaber, Nikki Necak, Francesca Necak, Elena Presta, Angelica (Justin) Getz, Maria Presta, Gabriella Presta, Sofia Presta, and Arianna Torres, as well as her great-grandchildren Liliana Getz and Michael Getz.

Lucy is also survived by many siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, and godchildren.

Lucy was deeply loved by her family, cherished by her neighbors, and remembered fondly by generations of friends who remained close to her throughout her life. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel seen, valued, and safe. Her home was a place of comfort, and her presence brought peace.

Though she is no longer with us, her spirit lives on in every shared meal, every open door, and every act of kindness done in her memory. The values she lived by, love of family, generosity of heart, and strength through adversity, continue to live on through every life she touched.

She will be profoundly missed, eternally loved, and forever remembered.

Visitation will be Sunday, February 1, 2026 from 3:00-8:00 PM at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence Ave Norridge, IL 60714.

Funeral services Monday, February 2, 2026 8:30 AM from the funeral Home to St. Monica Catholic Church 5136 N. Nottingham Ave. Chicago 60656

Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 AM

Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery Des Plaines, IL. 60016

Please visit Lucy’s obituary at www.cappetta-dicanio.com and share your memories with the family.

Information: Cappetta-DiCanio Funeral Directors. cappetta-dicanio.com or 708 222-8669