Margaret Ann Swalec

Margaret Ann Swalec (Menne), 88, of Sugar Grove, IL, North Port, FL. and Cuba, IL passed away suddenly on October 23, 2024 at her home. Margaret (Marge) was born to Joseph L. and Margaret D. Menne (Savoia) in St. David, IL. on January 21, 1936. She graduated from Canton High School in 1954. She attended Illinois State University where she was a performer in the Gamma Phi Circus and graduated with a degree in Special Education in 1958. It was during her tenure at Illinois State that she met and married the love of her life, John Swalec, with whom she had four daughters. In support of John’s career as an Illinois educational administrator, the couple moved frequently, living in Skokie, Calumet Park, Joliet, Park Ridge, Chatham, Libertyville, Batavia, and Sugar Grove Illinois. Despite these moves, Marge was able to achieve her own career success by establishing Special Education programs in Calumet Park, Joliet East, Leyden Township, Springfield, Stevenson, Libertyville, and Mooseheart Illinois and obtaining her master’s degree from St. Xavier, all while performing many social and supportive activities seamlessly as the wife of the president of Waubonsee Community College. Along with being a loving, supportive mother and doting Nana, Marge enjoyed teaching, crafting, golfing, reading, needle crafts, animals, their retirement homes in North Port, FL and Cuba IL, and most of all her two dachshunds Olive and Brandy.Marge will be deeply missed by her survivors, who include her husband John; daughters Martha Steele (Scott Biesaart) of Canandaigua, NY, Karen Tobias (Malcolm, deceased) of Knoxville, TN, Jill Thompson (Don) of Lindenhurst, IL, and Cindy Chaffee (Jeff) of Peotone, IL; her grandchildren Nathan Thompson of Antioch, IL, Elizabeth Baum (Chris) of Lindenhurst, IL, Jacob Tobias of Denver, CO, Jessica Dillow (Nathan) of Colorado Springs, CO, Sara Alfieri of Lincoln, NE, Amanda Chaffee of Godfrey, IL, Zack Chafee of Chicago, IL; great-grandchildren Luna and Oliver Baum; and sister Mary Jane Menne (Paul Franciscovich) of Cuba, IL. Marge is preceded in death by her parents and brothers Jim and Joe Menne. A private celebration of life is planned for a later date. The family is asking that donations be made in the name of Margaret Menne Swalec for the Gamma Phi Circus at Illinois State University (https://giving.illinoisstate.edu/fund/gamma-phi-circus/)

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