Bethann Wolin

Bethann Wolin passed away peacefully at home in Northbrook, Illinois, at 12:10 pm on October 12, 2025, at the age of 71.

Bethann, also known as Bunny, was gentle and sensitive—a beautiful person inside and out. She had an affectionate nature, a delightful flair for storytelling, and a laugh that sounded like music.

Born and raised in the Chicago area, Bunny was a gifted artist from an early age. She earned her MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago and created numerous works that her family and friends will treasure. Her career as a fabric designer yielded scores of beautiful hand-painted silk scarves and other pieces; some were given to loved ones who wear them with pride; many more are in the collections of clients all over the country.

Bethann will also be remembered for her great appreciation of music and Golden Age films. Any movie starring Judy Garland or featuring Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers became a lifelong favorite she’d relish in sharing with friends and family. She could answer almost any question about a movie from the 1940s, for example, and would add fun facts and personal details about the actors, gleaned from decades of curiosity and study. She was also fascinated by astrology and believed that our personalities and futures are revealed by the (actual) stars.

In recent years, Bethann had her own health struggles but she also served as caregiver for her father, Harold Wolin, after her beloved mother, Merle Wolin, passed away in 2014. For ten years, she tended to Harold in his own home, where he passed away in December of 2024.

Bethann’s loving heart and sweet nature will be cherished by all who knew her. She is survived by three siblings, Richard (Caroline), Nancy, and Kip (Nina); her beloved nephews and nieces Seth, Emma, Ethan, Annie, and Genie; and devoted cousins Barbara, Joanne, Bill, and Jim.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to:

Chicago Canine Rescue (https://chicagocaninerescue.org/)

or

Chicago Arts in Education (https://capechicago.org/)

Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options, Schiller Park, IL. 60176