Isabel Elsie Franzen

Isabel Franzen, of Park Ridge, Illinois, passed away at the age of 94. She was the beloved aunt of Vernon (Nancy), Carl, and Richard Beck, the loving grand-aunt of Laura (Dustin) Bunch and Darcy (Matthew) Davis, and the late Emily. She was the dear great-grandaunt of Zella, Cecelia, and Mathias Bunch. Isabel was the fond sister of the late Violet Beck.

Daughter of Swedish immigrants, Isabel grew up in Chicago during the Great Depression. After graduating from high school, she worked for many years as a secretary for a law firm before changing careers to become a teacher. She taught second grade at Indian Grove School in Mount Prospect until her retirement. She was the first in her immigrant family to earn a graduate degree, receiving a master’s in Education from Northwestern University. Isabel loved working with children and remained close to her fellow teachers long after she retired.

Baptized at Irving Park Lutheran Church, she transferred her membership to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church when her family moved to Park Ridge in 1955. For many years she volunteered at the church as a counter and played in the recorder choir. Isabel enjoyed baking, playing solitaire, and working on word search, sudoku, and crossword puzzles. She was an avid viewer of Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and All Creatures Great and Small. She treasured her independence and lived on her own for 94 years, supported by the kindness of her neighbors. She passed away two weeks after a fall that occurred after she drove herself home from her weekly grocery shopping trip.