Gertrude Frank, 94, nurse at Michael Reese, active volunteer
Gertrude Monteith Frank, formerly of Oak Park, died May 24, 2005 in Portland, Oregon. She was 94.
Mrs. Frank was born on Jan. 4, 1911 in Wagner, S.D. After high school, she moved to Chicago to train for a nursing career at Michael Reese Hospital and worked as a nurse for nearly 20 years.
In 1950, she married Stanley Frank, and the couple moved to Oak Park. She continued to work in nursing part-time while raising her daughter, Barbara. Mrs. Frank also continued to volunteer in church, school and community events.
Mrs. Frank eventually retired to Portland to be closer to Barbara. “I was amazed at how she was able to make new friends amidst those transitions, and how she continued to be actively involved in the world, and in the Portland community,” Barbara said.
Gertrude Frank is survived by her daughter, Barbara Frank; her son-in-law, Andrew Cross; and her grandchildren, Kaeli and Jonah. She is also survived by her sisters, Kay Dodge and Margaret Frey, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 6, at Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church in Oak Park. Donations designated to children’s services can be sent to the Hazel Mackin Community Library, P.O. Box 88, Roberts, Wis. 54023, care of director Beverly Jacobson.
Helen Follett, 87, Bookkeeper, Girl Scout leader, bridge player
Helen B. Follett, 87, formerly of Oak Park, died July 12, 2005. She was 87.
Born in Oak Park, Mrs. Follett grew up on Kenilworth Avenue. One of four children, her father died when she was 11, one year before the Depression began. Helen Bold met her future husband, Harry Follett, at Oak Park and River Forest High School.
“Harry was shooting rubberbands at a friend, who ducked, and the rubber band hit my mother,” said her son, Robert.
After graduating from high school in 1936, Follett worked as a bookkeeper at Sears Roebuck and Co. but soon left to raise her children. She was a Girl Scout troop leader, a hostess and bridge player. She lived in LaGrange Park for several years, then moved to Glen Ellyn in 1958. After her husband died, Follett returned to bookkeeping at the age of 68, and retired at the age of 75. Her children said she worked hard to pass on the values of church, education, and discipline.
“This was a really gutsy lady who had a lot of challenges put in her life, and she just adapted to them,” said Kathy Follett, her daughter-in-law.
Mrs. Follett is survived by three sons, Robert, Richard, and Thomas; a daughter, Sharon Koshak; a brother, William; a sister, Jane; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held July 16 at Williams-Kampp Funeral Home in Wheaton, followed by Mass at St. James the Apostle Catholic Church in Glen Ellyn and interment at Mount Emblem Cemetery in Elmhurst.
Beryl Bradbury, 99, Continental Bank secretary, First Presbyterian member
Beryl Irene Bradbury of River Forest died June 6, 2005 in her home. She was 99.
Mrs. Bradbury was born on Dec. 21, 2005 in Chicago. She married Charles M. Bradbury in November of 1928. He died on June 8, 1993.
She worked as secretary to the vice president of Continental Bank in Chicago and for Blunt, Ellis and Simmons Brokerage in Chicago, retiring in 1970. A member of Christian Life Church in Mt. Prospect, during the last two years of her life, she moved to River Forest and attended First Presbyterian Church in River Forest.
Beryl Bradbury is survived by her daughters, Gail Tittle of River Forest and Janis Gaultiere; nine grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 23 at First Presbyterian Church of River Forest.
Louise Sedzielasz, 56, Postal worker, member of Order of St. Francis
Louise M. Sedzielasz, 56, of Oak Park, died July 9, 2005 in her home.
Born in Chicago on Sept. 14, 1948 to Anthony and Mary Sedzielasz, she attended DePaul and Loyola universities. For 17 years, she worked at the main Chicago U.S. Post Office, was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis and an active volunteer at Womancare Services in Berwyn.
Miss Sedzielasz is survived by her sisters, Joan (Hank) Bellagamba and Carol (Joe) Bongiorno of Westmont; her nieces and nephews, Matt (Diana) and Lauren Bellagamba, and Joseph (Shari) and Tony Bongiorno; and great-aunt of TJ and Dominic Bongiorno and Emily Bongiorno. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation was held July 14 from 4 to 9 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park. A funeral Mass was celebrated July 15 at St. Edmund Church, followed by interment at St. Adalbert Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Sarah’s Circle, 4750 N. Sheridan Rd., Suite 220, Chicago 60640-8061 or to pancreatic cancer research are appreciated.
George Messner, 88, 51-year Forest Park and Oak Park resident, WWII veteran
George Messner, 88, died in his Forest Park home on July 14, 2005. He was the president and owner of National Plan Service, Inc. in Elmhurst until he sold the company in 1985.
Mr. Messner was born Sept. 12, 1916 to Phillipss and Magdalena Messner in Seattle, Wash., where he was raised and educated. He served in the United States Army in New Guinea and later Australia during WWII.
While serving in Australia, he met Gloria Trindall, whom he married in Sydney after the war. Mrs. Messner died in 2003.
George Messner is survived by his son, William G. Messner; his daughter, Susan Winchell;, his granddaughter, Lauren Winchell; and his sister, Grace Warner.
He was preceded in death by four sisters and one brother.
Visitation and services were held July 16 at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park, followed by interment at Woodlawn Mausoleum in Forest Park.
Lucy Reum, 91, Prominent civic leader
Lucy Reum, a long-time Oak Parker who lead reforms of the Illinois horse racing industry died Monday at 91.
Her complete obituary can be found at WednesdayJournalOnline.com and in next Wednesday’s newspaper.
Visitation will be held Thursday 6-9 p.m. at Dreschler, Brown and Williams. A memorial service will be held Friday, 10 a.m. at St. Chrysostom Church in Chicago.
 – Stephanie Thies
