Charlene Carol Haidley

1950 - 2025

Charlene Carol Haidley

April 4, 1950 - August 8, 2025

Charlene (Char) Carol Haidley, nee Hespe, was born April 4, 1950, to Otto and June Hespe. Her earliest years were lived on the family farm near Fremont, Neb. In 1959, the family left the farm and moved to Schuyler, Neb., where Char received her education in the Schuyler Public School system.

Char graduated from Wayne State College. It was here that she nurtured her love and talent for theater, and though her degree was in education, she spent many hours in the theater department acting, building sets and making costumes.

After graduation from Wayne State, Char began working for Northwestern Bell Telephone which later became AT&T. In 1979 she married Michael Haidley, and the two set up housekeeping in Omaha. They lived there until 1987 when they moved to Lisle, Ill. Char continued to work for AT&T and within the telecom industry.

Char retired from the telecom world and began her second career as an ESL teacher, primarily with high school students. Char soon found her new passion and love in this arena. Her goal each day was to make it easier for her students to thrive, and many of them sought her out even after their graduation. Char treasured each of these connections.

Char loved spending time and energy to find just the right flowers for her garden and then tending them to bring beauty to her yard. She had a flair for interior decorating and made her home especially inviting. She especially enjoyed incorporating many of Mike's unique photographs that brought light to the walls of their home and to Char's heart. Whenever one of her nieces or nephews called for homework help, she could be counted on to lend support and encouragement. Char's special relationship with each niece or nephew went far beyond panic cries for school help though. Each one of them cherished times and talks with her whenever possible.

Char was predeceased by her parents, Otto and June Hespe; her sister, Virginia (Ginny); and a nephew, Sean Michael. She is survived by her husband, Michael; sisters, Sue Gerrard and Marilyn Hespe; nieces and nephews, Andrea, Jake, Alexandra, David, Julie, Crista, Jeremy and Carrie; and many great-nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Saturday, August 16, at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in Lisle, Ill. Memorials may be directed to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Ill.