Catherine Pohl Madden, 95, a long-time resident of Forest Park, died peacefully in her sleep on Nov. 8. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe.
Catherine was born to William and Cecile Pohl in St Paul, Minnesota. She is survived by her sisters Geraldine and Dorothy and brother Bob. Her siblings Lou, Ann, Mary, Bill and Tom preceded her in death.
After moving to Illinois with her parents, she grew up in LaGrange, graduating from St Francis and Nazareth schools. She met Joe and together they had six children, Patti (John) Roeder, Mary Ellen (Ed) Felver, Joseph (Peg), Dorothy (Tim) Gillian, Raymond (Janet) and Cathy (Jerry) LeBeda, and moved to Forest Park. She raised the children on her own as her husband, Joe died at an early age. She worked once the kids were all in school, at Forest Park National Bank, and eventually retired from a position as a bank officer. She was very involved in local school board and in the mother’s club and parish activities at St Bernardine’s. Catherine was always active, loving tennis, bowling and golf with her many friends, which she enjoyed up to age 90. She was an avid Cubs fan, never enjoying a world series win but was able to throw out the first pitch from the mound and attend a game in recent years. She also loved cooking, gardening, sewing, knitting, traveling with her good friend, Doris and always looking for four friends or family members to gather in hopes that a bridge game would break out.
She loved spending time with her 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren who knew her as “G-G-Ma.”
She was cared for lovingly in her last years by family members and several caregivers who became part of the family. Children, grandchildren and some great-grandchildren were all together after she’d passed at a family wedding out of state. Together they laughed, cried, reminisced, and toasted a wonderful lady and mother, with her favorite “Manhattan.” She always had a twinkle in her eye and was always an upbeat positive life force. She has finally gone home and is with her beloved Joe.
A Memorial Mass will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014 at Ascension Catholic Church 808 S. East Ave., Oak Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, appreciated. www.cff.org/GetInvolved/ManyWaysToGive/MakeADonation/. For more information call 708-366-2200 or visit www.ZimmermanHarnett.com.
