Ann Jane Michalesko
Of Arlington Heights

Ann H. Michalesko, 83, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Ann was born in McGhee, Arkansas on November 4, 1925, the daughter of the late John A. and Lorena Harper and attended Little Rock High School. A Southerner to the core even after living many years in Yankee territory, people often remarked on her charming accent.

As a member of the Cadet Nurse Corps, she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Vanderbilt University. While attending a USO dance she was swept off her feet by a handsome young serviceman. Ann married Frank A. Michalesko in November, 1950, in Nashville. Together, they raised seven children and were married for 53 years, until Frank was called home to heaven on January 12, 2004.

After relocating to the Chicago area, Ann was employed as a registered nurse at a number of hospitals including Edgewater, St. Francis and Ravenswood as an instructor in Staff Development. At Ravenswood, she was responsible for diabetes education and provided in-service training for the nursing staff. Diabetes education became a passion for Ann. Her children proudly witnessed her reception of a Master of Science in Nursing Administration degree from DePaul University. Her master’s thesis was on glucose testing. She served as secretary of the board of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and was a member of the American Diabetes Association.

Her children and grandchildren fondly remember Ann’s passions. She was a Camp Fire Girl leader, a seamstress extraordinaire, an avid reader, a lover of purple and a “furr-vent” cat lover. After her retirement, genealogy research took Ann and Frank around the United States.

Ann is survived by her children, Kathy (William) Udell of Crystal Lake, Martha (Robert) Hilchey of Costa Mesa, California, Barbara (Bradley) Johnson of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, Theresa (Vincent) Hart of Mount Prospect, Kenneth (Barbara) Michalesko of Skokie, and Frank (Jennifer) Michalesko of Arlington Heights; her grandchildren Erin, Laura, Denis, Christine, Raymond, Anna, Jeanne, Erik and Nick; and her sister, Patricia Baker, of Little Rock, Arkansas.

She was preceded in death by her son, Mark Gerard; and her sisters, Jennie B. Monan and Francis Stoddard of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Visitation from 3:00 until 9:00 PM, Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at the Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. Prayers 9:15 Am, Wednesday, June 3, 2009 from the funeral proceeding to St. James Catholic Church, 831 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights for Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Maryhill Cemetery, Niles.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to American Heart Assn., Memorials & Tributes 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.
 

The children would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Lutheran Home for the tender care they provided their mother, and to her caregiver, Leticia, as well as to the Midwest Palliative and Hospice Alliance.