MABEL A. HAMMERSMITH

Mabel A. Hammersmith Mabel A. Hammersmith, third generation Napervillian and youngest child of German immigrants, Carl Gustav and Mabel Antoinette Hammersmith, was born Nov. 11, 1919, and returned to her Lord, Dec. 6,2011, the feast day of St. Nicholas, patron saint of children, at age 92. Mabel and her older sisters, Marguerite "Peg" and Ruth, grew up in their grand, painted lady home in the historic district near North Central College, where she was graduated in 1941. She was a member of the Naperville High School Class of 1937 and helped plan many high school and college reunions. Art and the humanities were an integral part of her life from early childhood. She studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and later owned and operated a design studio in Wilmette, Ill., that specialized in book illustration and greeting card design. The left-handed Renaissance woman once worked as a technical illustrator for Douglas Aircraft and was an active member of several craft and design groups in New York City. Working as a 20-year program specialist for the Girl Scouts of the USA in New York City, she was a a trailblazer for women and played a major role in developing the G.S. program. A nature lover, she carried particular responsibility for outdoor activities, developing the outdoor education segments of the Brownie and Girl Scout Handbook, "Worlds to Explore," and administering a "Reader's Digest" Foundation Grant for community service projects for troops across the country. She designed 76 badges for Junior and Senior high school Girl Scouts and 37 for younger girls. These appear on a US postage stamp commemorating the Girl Scout's 75th birthday. Ms. Hammersmith was executive producer of several internationally-acclaimed environmental filmstrips for the Girl Scouts. "A Place Apart," about nature preservation, won a gold medal at the 1973 International Film festival; "It's All Yours," a five-part series focusing on community service projects for Girl Scouts and citizens' groups, received a silver medal at the festival in 1975. Mabel was a fun-loving, global Girl Scout ambassador who enjoyed travel and taught workshops at international Girl Scout/Girl Guide headquarters in Adelboden, Switzerland (Our Chalet), and Cuernavaca, Mexico (The Cabana). She was awarded the Juliette Low World Friendship medal by the Girl Scouts for her outstanding contributions to international friendship and understanding, thus illustrating the Girl Scout song "Make new friends but keep the old...." Upon her 1982 G.S. retirement, she moved back to Naperville and became involved with the Naperville Community Associates of the Art institute of Chicago and served on its advisory board. A woman of deep faith, she belonged to a Bible study circle and was a significant parish leader at Saint Paul's Episcopal Parish in Riverside, Ill., where her creativity exerted a major influence on parish life. Mabel's spirit of adventure led her to hike (on her 65th birthday) the Milford Track, a 40-mile trail through Fiordland National Park on New Zealand's Southern Island. She also hiked in the Swiss Alps and trekked Peru's Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu. Mabel is a direct descendant of Emma Von Oven, donor of land for Naperville's Camp Von Oven, enjoyed by Boy and Girl Scouts alike. She is survived by her sister, Ruth and numerous relatives throughout the country. Visitation will be at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 516 S. Washington St., downtown Naperville, on Friday, Dec. 9, 4 until 7:30 p.m. Her memorial service will be held at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Riverside on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m. Memorial donations can be sent to the Saint Paul's Foundation (St. Rafael's Fund), 60 Akenside Road, Riverside, IL. 60546. For information, Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home & Crematory, 630-355-0264 or www.beidelmankunschfh.com.