Annette (Lidquist) Armstrong passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 3. She was 89. She suffered from cardiovascular illnesses and macular degeneration. She is preceded in death by her parents Walter Lidquist, and Ann (Czerwinski) Lidquist, and her husband, Merlyn Armstrong. She is survived by her sister Noreen (Lidquist) Hanley, Children Kathy (David) Omelka, David (Diane) Armstrong, Kim (Craig) Heinberg, and was a loving grandmother to Ryan, Alex, Grant and Matthew.
Annette attended John Hay Elementary school and Austin High School in Chicago. She lived with her family in Chicago on Haddon Avenue. Annette learned to cook and bake from her mother, and she learned arithmetic from her father’s milk man tally orders. As a teenager Annette worked in a 5 and dime store where she was in charge of making cotton candy and the caramel corn. She was the strong one to wield the big, heavy copper pot of popcorn and caramel. It was job security.
In High school Annette was athletic. She played many sports in the school gym, most notably was volleyball, and in later years she joined a bowling league and a golf league.
Annette and Merle were married on September 25, 1954. Annette was 20 years old.
They lived in an apartment on Wisconsin and Madison Ave in Oak Park. As a young adult, trying to have a family, Annette became a dental assistant for Dr. Howe in Oak Park. This was back in the days when a dentist had their own lab. Annette learned dentistry from the ground up. Annette respected Dr. Howe as a mentor and friend. She had a lifelong career as a dental assistant. Dentistry was often a topic of conversation, advising her friends and family about good dental hygiene, or reasons for a dental procedure.
Annette and Merle finally became parents. With Annette’s perseverance and determination and after four tries to start a family, they finally succeeded. She became a new mom at 26. After starting a family, they moved to a new subdivision called Yorkshire Woods in unincorporated Oak Brook. A new home with gravel roads in 1964. They lived in this home, for 37 years, the place where my sister and brother-in-law, and family, now live.
As kids we had a lot of fun. Annette found a way for most of the neighborhood kids to play in our back yard. There were popsicles, water balloon flights, an A-frame playhouse, and birthday parties. When we ventured into the woods, she would ring a cow bell to call us home for dinner.
Every year our family went to Auburn, Nebraska for summer vacations to visit Dad’s relatives, and to Bull Shoals Arkansas for fishing and swimming. On special occasions, and as often as possible, we would go to Cousin Al’s cabin in Wisconsin where peaceful days of being outdoors lived. Annette loved to fish, and although she had a fear of swimming, she felt comfortable in a rowboat. She prepared many meals for our Wisconsin trips in the woods, especially fresh caught fish.
During all our trips, and road trips when we toured the United States, she was there to feed her hungry family - there was always tuna fish salad sandwiches with lettuce and tomato, and turkey sandwiches with tomato, cheese and mayo. And of course, a variety of fresh fruit. All could be found in the Styrofoam cooler.
Annette loved her church - Christ Lutheran Church of Clarendon Hills. She volunteered for many committees, such as the nursery, internal evangelism, the building committee, the choir, the rummage sale, and especially organizing the church kitchen. But her shining trait was her ability to pray and show God’s love, every day especially at mealtimes.
Annette enjoyed cooking and baking. She was famous for Swedish Glogg and date nut bread at Christmas time. Annette loved to garden - everything from heavy yard work at home, to weeding the church gardens, to a simple container pot of coleus and a tomato plat. Annette was a hardy woman, handling her redwood patio set by both painting it and adjusting the hardware if needed. She had a Dremel tool and knew how to use it.
Annette belonged to P.E.O. a philanthropic education organization and assisted in its fundraisers with love for these women. She hosted many meetings in her home with refreshments.
Annette loved children most of all and volunteered to teach elementary school children how to clean their teeth in a fun and engaging way. She volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and was also a Picture Lady for the elementary school kids.
Annette downsized to a townhouse in Westmont in 2001 and lived there for 16 years. She enjoyed interior designing her own home, harkening back to a time when she took interior design classes at the Art Institute.
Annette excelled at organizing fun games for friends and family during birthday celebrations, holidays and other get togethers. Annette was an extraordinary person. She was widowed at the age of 49 and raised three children. For as much as those who knew and loved Annette, Merle was her life companion in heart, mind and spirit. Annette never remarried and had no intention to do so. Their marriage was built on faith, love and family.
In recent times she lived at Bridgeway of Bensenville, an Independent and Assisted Living Community. She participated in social events, and personally welcomed newcomers. Residents would remember her kindness and perk up when they saw her.
Annette was soft spoken and did not complain. She wanted to make sure we were fed as kids, and even as adults. And this applied to everyone she knew. Annette was a beloved parishioner, friend, family member, music and art lover, nature seeker, open arms to children, and a free thinker about what could be good for all. Her love for us all is unwavering.
Visitation Friday, September 8, 2023 at Christ Lutheran Church of Clarendon Hills, Rt. 83 and 55th St., Clarendon Hills from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Funeral Service 10:00 a.m. followed by a light lunch at the church (all are welcome, please join us) then proceeding to Bronswood Cemetery for a graveside service. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Annette’s name to Christ Lutheran Church of Clarendon Hills (www.yourchrist.org/give) or to a charity of personal preference. Arrangements entrusted to Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home. For info 708-F-U-N-E-R-A-L.
She is God’s example from John 21, 15-19, where Jesus tells Peter to feed my sheep. And with this, Annette has been God’s servant her entire life.
Annette (Lidquist) Armstrong passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 3. She was 89. She suffered from cardiovascular illnesses and macular degeneration. She is preceded in death by her parents Walter Lidquist, and Ann (Czerwinski) Lidquist, and her husband, Merlyn Armstrong. She is survived by her sister Noreen (Lidquist) Hanley, Children Kathy (David) Omelka, David (Diane) Armstrong, Kim (Craig) Heinberg, and was a loving grandmother to Ryan, Alex, Grant and Matthew.
Annette attended John Hay Elementary school and Austin High School in Chicago. She lived with her family in Chicago on Haddon Avenue. Annette learned to cook and bake from her mother, and she learned arithmetic from her father’s milk man tally orders. As a teenager Annette worked in a 5 and dime store where she was in charge of making cotton candy and the caramel corn. She was the strong one to wield the big, heavy copper pot of popcorn and caramel. It was job security.
In High school Annette was athletic. She played many sports in the school gym, most notably was volleyball, and in later years she joined a bowling league and a golf league.
Annette and Merle were married on September 25, 1954. Annette was 20 years old.
They lived in an apartment on Wisconsin and Madison Ave in Oak Park. As a young adult, trying to have a family, Annette became a dental assistant for Dr. Howe in Oak Park. This was back in the days when a dentist had their own lab. Annette learned dentistry from the ground up. Annette respected Dr. Howe as a mentor and friend. She had a lifelong career as a dental assistant. Dentistry was often a topic of conversation, advising her friends and family about good dental hygiene, or reasons for a dental procedure.
Annette and Merle finally became parents. With Annette’s perseverance and determination and after four tries to start a family, they finally succeeded. She became a new mom at 26. After starting a family, they moved to a new subdivision called Yorkshire Woods in unincorporated Oak Brook. A new home with gravel roads in 1964. They lived in this home, for 37 years, the place where my sister and brother-in-law, and family, now live.
As kids we had a lot of fun. Annette found a way for most of the neighborhood kids to play in our back yard. There were popsicles, water balloon flights, an A-frame playhouse, and birthday parties. When we ventured into the woods, she would ring a cow bell to call us home for dinner.
Every year our family went to Auburn, Nebraska for summer vacations to visit Dad’s relatives, and to Bull Shoals Arkansas for fishing and swimming. On special occasions, and as often as possible, we would go to Cousin Al’s cabin in Wisconsin where peaceful days of being outdoors lived. Annette loved to fish, and although she had a fear of swimming, she felt comfortable in a rowboat. She prepared many meals for our Wisconsin trips in the woods, especially fresh caught fish.
During all our trips, and road trips when we toured the United States, she was there to feed her hungry family - there was always tuna fish salad sandwiches with lettuce and tomato, and turkey sandwiches with tomato, cheese and mayo. And of course, a variety of fresh fruit. All could be found in the Styrofoam cooler.
Annette loved her church - Christ Lutheran Church of Clarendon Hills. She volunteered for many committees, such as the nursery, internal evangelism, the building committee, the choir, the rummage sale, and especially organizing the church kitchen. But her shining trait was her ability to pray and show God’s love, every day especially at mealtimes.
Annette enjoyed cooking and baking. She was famous for Swedish Glogg and date nut bread at Christmas time. Annette loved to garden - everything from heavy yard work at home, to weeding the church gardens, to a simple container pot of coleus and a tomato plat. Annette was a hardy woman, handling her redwood patio set by both painting it and adjusting the hardware if needed. She had a Dremel tool and knew how to use it.
Annette belonged to P.E.O. a philanthropic education organization and assisted in its fundraisers with love for these women. She hosted many meetings in her home with refreshments.
Annette loved children most of all and volunteered to teach elementary school children how to clean their teeth in a fun and engaging way. She volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and was also a Picture Lady for the elementary school kids.
Annette downsized to a townhouse in Westmont in 2001 and lived there for 16 years. She enjoyed interior designing her own home, harkening back to a time when she took interior design classes at the Art Institute.
Annette excelled at organizing fun games for friends and family during birthday celebrations, holidays and other get togethers. Annette was an extraordinary person. She was widowed at the age of 49 and raised three children. For as much as those who knew and loved Annette, Merle was her life companion in heart, mind and spirit. Annette never remarried and had no intention to do so. Their marriage was built on faith, love and family.
In recent times she lived at Bridgeway of Bensenville, an Independent and Assisted Living Community. She participated in social events, and personally welcomed newcomers. Residents would remember her kindness and perk up when they saw her.
Annette was soft spoken and did not complain. She wanted to make sure we were fed as kids, and even as adults. And this applied to everyone she knew. Annette was a beloved parishioner, friend, family member, music and art lover, nature seeker, open arms to children, and a free thinker about what could be good for all. Her love for us all is unwavering.
Visitation Friday, September 8, 2023 at Christ Lutheran Church of Clarendon Hills, Rt. 83 and 55th St., Clarendon Hills from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Funeral Service 10:00 a.m. followed by a light lunch at the church (all are welcome, please join us) then proceeding to Bronswood Cemetery for a graveside service. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Annette’s name to Christ Lutheran Church of Clarendon Hills (www.yourchrist.org/give) or to a charity of personal preference. Arrangements entrusted to Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home. For info 708-F-U-N-E-R-A-L.
She is God’s example from John 21, 15-19, where Jesus tells Peter to feed my sheep. And with this, Annette has been God’s servant her entire life.