Annette T. Butler

Annette T Butler, "Nama", age 86, passed peacefully, surrounded by family, into eternity and the arms of her savior, Jesus Christ on October 7, 2025. Annette was born in Hammond, Indiana, to John and Antoinette Olesek. She was raised in Hegewisch on the southeast side of Chicago along with her brother John and sister Janis. Annette attended Aquinas Dominican High School in Chicago and after graduating, went on to attend Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her resume began with North Central Airlines at Chicago's Midway Airport in an industry that she would absolutely love. When Ohare International Airport opened for business, she was helicoptered daily between the two airports to her new work station. While raising her young family, she worked for First Chicago Data Corporation (FCDC) and later Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP). She began reconciling and balancing bank daily business before moving on to training and assisting personnel during software conversions in the 1980s. During this tenure, Annette authored a procedural manual on reconciliation. When the
opportunity arose, she jumped at the chance to return to the industry she loved most, beginning at TransWorld Airlines (TWA) in reservations and moving on to British Airways in client services. During her tenure with BA, she was afforded many
opportunities, such as rubbing elbows with the likes of Princess Diana, John Cusack, Boba Fett, as well as countless others. She retired at age 70, having spent twenty years with her favorite airline.
In 1961, Annette had fallen in love and married James Butler, the handsome army serviceman who caught her eye while vacationing in Texas. Together, they raised six wonderful children in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood on the south side. Annette
became a "Nama" in 1991 when her first granddaughter, Frances, was born. She was over the moon in love with her promotion to grandmother. Frances was soon followed by Cathy, Joey, Lily, Olivia, Hannah, Brian, Samantha, Tommy, Jonathan, and finally Mary Clare in 2011. But nothing delighted her more than becoming a great-grandmother to Daniel and Jack and the possibility of yet another addition to the family. How she loved those babies!
Annette traveled the world over, exploring different lands and cultures, always enjoying the people she met. She instilled this wanderlust and appreciation for other cultures in her children and grandchildren. Annette enjoyed fashioning miniature furniture to add to the dollhouse she constructed. She spent hours writing prose to mark special occasions for friends and family. Annette even dabbled in real estate, another favorite hobby of hers. She was an active member of Tern Circle at Corkscrew Woodlands in Estero, Florida, her winter home for many years. Annette was active in the 19th Ward Senior activities and enjoyed her summers at Kennedy Park pool with the many people she was proud to call her friends.
Annette is survived by five of her children, James CPD, John (Elizabeth), Amy (Matt Brady), Joe, and David, 11 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, beloved sister Jan Wallman Tauch, and her sister-in-law, Frances Darley. Annette is predeceased by her
husband James, her son Edward, her parents John and Antoinette Olesek, and her brother John. Visitation Monday, October 13th from 3-8 p.m. at Donnellan Funeral Home 10525 S. Western Ave. Chicago. Funeral Tuesday, October 14th, 9:00 a.m. from the funeral home to St. Barnabas Church 10134 S. Longwood Dr. for Mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. For info 773-238-0075 or sign guestbook at www.donnellanfuneralhome.com.