Margaret Ann Aldrich (Oest)

Margaret Ann Aldrich (Oest) (nee Pokorny), 91, of Campbellsport, WI passed away peacefully on Friday, October 12, 2018 at Ivy Manor. She was born on June 2, 1927 in Cary, Illinois, the daughter of the late Joseph W.  and Rose L. Pokorny (nee Kvidera). Margaret graduated from St. Patrick’s Catholic High School in Chicago in 1944 and began working at Western Electric where she would meet her first husband, Warren. Margaret and Warren G. H. Oest were married on June 18, 1949. Together they raised six children until Warren passed away on February 14, 1963. On November 28, 1970, she married Jack W. Aldrich and they combined their families and moved to Arlington Heights, Ill.  Once Jack semi-retired, they moved to Crowley, TX where they lived for 25 years, until Jack passed away on July 31, 2006. Margaret was a devout Catholic and was always active in all the Parishes where she was a member. She belonged to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Cary, IL., St. James Catholic Church in   Arlington Heights, IL., and St. Francis Village Catholic Church in Crowley, TX. Margaret was a member of the Third Order of Franciscans and was involved in their community outreach to the soup kitchen and St. Anthony’s Inn in Chicago, IL. She also made her Cursillo and was a Communion Minister. Margaret enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing, playing the organ, rosary making, and spending time playing Rummikub with her pals at Three Oaks assisted Living and Ivy Manor.  She is famous for her baking - favorite recipes include Chocolate Shot cookies, cinnamon twists, red cake, fudge pudding, and the family beloved Vdolký of course. One tradition Margaret really enjoyed was making Christmas ornaments every year for all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren PTL (praise the Lord) She was always looking to brighten the day of those she loved, because they were all her favorite. Those Margaret leaves behind to cherish her memory include her 12 children, John Oest of Milwaukee, WI (Kathleen Oest of Olympia, WA), Christine “Neena” Oest (Ken Vanderwerker) of Colfax, WI, Jay (Nancy) Aldrich of Buffalo Grove, IL, Thomas Oest of Cary, IL, Kevin (Lani) Aldrich of Elgin, IL, Shelia (Kevin) Scott of Belvidere, IL, Phillip (Sarah) Oest of Watauga, TX, Niall Aldrich of Belvidere, IL, Mary Mootrey of Belvidere, IL, Seanna (Jim) Aldrich of Hotchkiss, Colorado,  Joanne (Jim) Silbernagel of Campbellsport, WI, and Barbara Aldrich of Elgin, IL; 23 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her siblings, Rosemary “Noni” McGraw, George (Judy) Pokorny, Sr. Mary Pokorny, Edward Pokorny, Clara (Irv) Reisner, and Judy Michaelis; and sister-in-law, Diane Pokorny and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and her husbands, she was preceded in death by her son, Warren Oest Jr.; siblings and in-laws,, Charles (Virginia) Pokorny, Frederick (Patricia) Pokorny, Francis (Virgene) Pokorny, and Joseph Pokorny; and brothers-in-law, Don Grabbe, Gene Michaelis and William McGraw, Charles Aldrich, David Aldrich, John Oest, Walter Oest, Dorothy Oest, Lucille And George Strangeman, Katie and Steve Antichow and her favorite niece Karen Pokorny. A celebration of life Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 23, 2018 at 10:30am at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 410 North First Street Cary, IL., 60013. Father Tim Siegel will officiate the service.  Margaret’s family will greet relatives and friends at the church from 9:30am until the time of Mass. Burial will be at Memory Gardens 2501 E. Euclid Ave. in Arlington Heights after the mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Franciscan Outreach, 1645 W. LeMoyne Street Chicago, IL. 60622 or you can go to their website, www.Franoutreach.org. Margaret’s family would like to thank Three Oaks Assisted Living, Cary Illinois, Ivy Manor, Campbellsport Wisconsin, Heartland Hospice, and her hospice nurse, Erin Schneider, for their compassionate care To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Margaret Ann Aldrich (Oest), please visit our flower store.