Isabel Franzen, of Park Ridge, IL. Beloved aunt of Vernon (Nancy), Carl, and Richard Beck. Loving grand-aunt of Laura (Dustin) Bunch, Darcy (Matthew) Davis, and the late Emily. Dear great-grandaunt of Zella, Cecelia, and Mathias Bunch. Fond sister of the late Violet Beck.

Isabel was the daughter of immigrants from Sweden and grew up in Chicago during the Great Depression. After graduating from high school Isabel worked for many years as a secretary for a law firm and then made a career change to teaching. She taught second grade at Indian Grove School in Mount Prospect until retirement. She was the first in her immigrant family to earn a graduate degree, a master's in Education from Northwestern. She loved working with children and maintained close ties with her fellow teachers after retirement. She was baptized at Irving Park Lutheran Church and transferred to St Luke's Lutheran Church when the 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. She loved playing solitaire and working on puzzles: word search, sudoku, and crossword. She enjoyed Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune on TV as well as All Creatures Great and Small. She treasured her independence and lived independently for 94 years, with the assistance of her extremely helpful neighbors. Sadly she died 2 weeks after a fall that occurred after she drove herself home from her weekly grocery shopping trip.

Visitation 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, March 20, Nelson Funeral Home, 820 Talcott Road, Park Ridge, IL. Funeral Service 12:30 P.M. Saturday, March 21, St. Luke's Church, 205 N. Prospect Ave, Park Ridge, IL. Interment to follow at Ridgewood Cemetery, 9900 N. Milwaukee Ave., Des Plaines. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Luke's Church, you may donate online: CLICK HERE.

For more information, 847-823-5122.