Edna T. Grench

1931 - 2023

Edna T. Grench
Maryville - It is with great sadness that Edna T Malmberg-Grench has moved on from this world. Her 92 years were filled with civil service and devotion to family, friends, and the communities she lived in. Edna passed away on Wednesday June 21, 2023 at Liberty Village Care Center in Maryville, IL.
Edna was an amazing woman; she worked hard to leave a natural legacy so future generations had green spaces to enjoy. Her passion for dedicating open space in urban and suburban settings found her volunteering on the Planning Commission in Lombard Illinois, Citizens for Parks organization in Lombard, Citizens Action Committee in Lombard, and various positions with The League of Woman Voters. With these groups she was instrumental in making the Illinois Prairie Path a reality which now includes 61 miles of trail on an old RR bed in Cook, DuPage, and Kane counties. She was the VP for the Citizens group working hard to get enough votes to pass a bond issue to fund the new Lombard Park District which now has 450 acres of open space in a densely populated suburb of Chicago. The group called themselves "The Green Machine". Edna was also passionate about affordable housing, volunteering with the county to allocate HUD money. Edna once said "A democracy requires a responsible citizen to participate in their county's discussions, I say we all should be interested in the world community and use our talents to make this a better place to live." She embraced this wholeheartedly throughout her long life.
Her interests in politics had her knocking on doors to get out the vote for individuals she felt would mirror her passion for open space, civil rights, and equal rights for all. She worked as a precinct captain and poll worker as well. She took her responsibility to vote very seriously and loved to discuss both local and global politics. She was an avid letter-writer both to politicians and local newspapers urging support for open space and planned development calling out breaches in conduct if warranted.
Edna had over 15 years of volunteer service at both Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site as a docent and with the RSVP program at Southwestern Illinois College helping seniors. Edna worked with the Methodist Church in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina to restore a family home. She taught an exercise class at the senior center in Edwardsville up until Covid closed the program in 2020. Her love of history and skill in various pioneer crafts had her demonstrating spinning, candle making and natural plant dying at the local historical society both in Lombard and Edwardsville, and at Cahokia. She volunteered during the restoration of the Sheldon Peck home in Lombard and did research on the Peck family whose house was part of the underground RR. After she moved to Edwardsville she researched Gov. Coles and his role in ensuring Illinois would remain a free state, giving talks on the subject and writing up her notes for the Madison County Historical Society.
Edna's volunteer career started early as she gathered milkweed fluff during WWII for life vests for the navy as a Girl Scout. She taught Sunday school classes at her family church in Brookfield, Illinois while growing up and as an adult at the Methodist church in Lombard, and was on various committees in High School. She was a member of the Anti-Defamation League working on the "Christen Friends Bulletin" in 1951. She was chairwoman for the Social Concerns Committee and president of the Woman's Society for the Lombard Methodist Church. It was during this period in her life while running an urban/suburban day camp that she and a friend performed puppet shows at inner city school programs and befriended a family who had a daughter near her daughter's age. She offered to host the daughter during summer vacation and she became part of the family for many years.
Edna was always interested in learning and went back to school in her 40's to earn a BA in Arts with a major in sociology and minor in history graduating Magna Cum Laude. She started a reading club with her kids with the one who read the most books each year winning a special treat. She brought her kids to after school programs at the Morton Arboretum earning certificates for completing so many hours of formal classes there. During family camping trips the family benefitted not only from hiking and fishing but also visited historical sites, local museums, and participated in ranger led walks as part of every trip while traveling cross country from coast to coast. How many mothers would allow her kids to see the musical "Hair" or "Jesus Christ Superstar"? Edna did, all in the name of education and broadening horizons. Or attend a Jesse Jackson sermon in Chicago? Edna did.
Edna loved to travel not only did she visit all 50 states by her early 80's she went to Sweden to learn about her roots and visit family members, and also traveled to several South American countries with Elderhostel. Her bike was a favorite mode of transportation, letting her explore new horizons from an early age when her dad admonished her for riding in the street. She rode her bike into her late 80's when she had it set up so she could ride inside with her bike facing her plant stand so she could feel like she was outside on her cherished Prairie Path.
Edna's creative and inquisitive nature had her trying all manner of crafts and art mediums. She enjoyed watercolor and drawing, making many of the family Christmas cards through the years. She encouraged her kids to be creative and resourceful, telling them they are unique so don't get upset about what someone may have said. Her needlework skill was passed down from her mother. Together they were unsurpassed in knitting and hand sewing, keeping the kids in clothes, sweaters, mittens, and scarves. She produced many heirlooms that will be treasured for decades to come.
Edna's love of nature burst through every spring as her yard came into bloom showing off her creative talent in her garden as well as with the paint brush and needles. When her kids were growing up Edna was the mom to whom the neighbor kids would bring an ailing critter to be nursed back to health and released back into the "wild" – whether it be a cute little bunny, a scaley snake, or warty toad, it made no difference. She advocated for the welfare of the Monarch butterfly, planting milkweed in her yard and dispersing the seeds to friends, family, and wild spaces. Edna and Bob, her husband, with their children grew a huge vegetable garden that provided enough canned goods and filled the freezer for the winter months.
As a first-generation American Swede, Edna felt it important to pass on certain traditions and folklore. Christmas dinners were based on a Swedish smorgasbord, her kids learned about Tomtes and the Dala horse, she maintained communication with her Swedish relatives, and her handwork reflected her Swedish roots.
Edna was an amazing person, she worked hard to create a better life for all. Her contribution to this world was immeasurable and the void left by her passing will never be filled.
She will be missed.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at barrywilsonfuneralhome.com