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Patricia Chessman Bergstrom died in Barrington on October 12, 2013. She was 89. Born on March 22, 1924 to Grant and Patra Chessman, she was the last baby ever born in Pullman Hospital in Chicago, Ill. She married her dear and beloved husband Richard Norman Bergstrom in 1947 and they were married for nearly 60 years before he died in 2008. Education was extremely important to Patricia, as well as her husband Richard, and would become, in many ways, her legacy. She attended Purdue University in the early '40s, where she was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. Due to World War II, she left college for a job at United Airlines, but later returned to school to complete her degree, which she received from Elmhurst College in 1971. Patricia served as a Trustee at Elmhurst College from 1978 through 1991and was on the Executive Committee of the Board at Elmhurst from 1986 through 1989. She was also a member of the Leadership Gifts Committee at Elmhurst and, in '91, she received the Founder's Medal for her service to the college. After that, she served as an honorary trustee for many years. Patricia and Richard's four children all graduated college-three of them from Elmhurst-as well as seven of their eight grandchildren, the eighth of which (Ben) will head to college next year. Aside from education, Patricia was actively involved in her community and the Presbyterian church. She served on the board of Northwest Community Hospital Auxiliary in Arlington Heights in the '70s and was active in Infant Welfare. She was an avid traveler with her family, enjoyed needlepoint and crossword puzzles, and loved to entertain family and friends in her home. A selfless and supportive woman, Patricia will be remembered by her family for her constant love and continual encouragement, as well as her deep and affectionate relationship with her husband, Richard. Patricia is survived by four children, George Bergstrom of Evanston, Ill., Jim Bergstrom of Hillsboro, NJ., Laura Sevy of Hailey, Ida., and Marty Gibbons of Libertyville, Ill.; eight grandchildren, Ryan Bergstrom, Erica Bergstrom, Tim Bergstrom, Jim Gibbons, Dan Gibbons, Tanya Sevy, Alexis Gibbons, and Ben Bergstrom; and two great grandchildren: Luke and Claire Bergstrom. Due to her lifelong advocacy of education, the family asks that, en lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Bergstrom Family Endowed Scholarship Fund at Elmhurst College (190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst IL 60126), a fund that has, over the past 28 years, provided three scholarships per year to students. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday October 15, 2013 at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington, 6 Brinker Road, Barrington, IL.
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