Cecilia "Lang" Pedtke

Cecilia Frances Pedtke, nee Lang was born in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago, IL on June 5, 1917 to Andrew and Mary Lang, nee Soller. She died at 108 years of age on August 29, 2025. Mrs. Pedtke was the ninth of eleven children. Ceil attended St. Gregory elementary school, and two years of high school at the Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart. She then entered Sisters of Christian Charity convent as Sister Raymond at Maria Immaculata in Wilmette, IL. She completed two more years of high school and one year of college while in the convent, but decided to leave before her final vows. After returning home, Cecilia was employed as a secretary at the Edgewater Hospital.

She met Raymond Pedtke while both were members of the St. Gregory church choir conducted by organist Herman Pedtke, Ray's younger brother. She later learned that Raymond was the milkman delivering dairy products to her home at 5:00 a.m. each morning. After their courtship, Ray proposed and Ceil said yes. Ceil's beautiful engagement and wedding rings were made by her father who was a professional jeweler. On May 2, 1942 they married at St. Gregory the Great Church. After a honeymoon at Starved Rock, Ceil soon left her job at Edgewater Hospital as she and Ray provided a warm and loving home for their growing family.

The couple had five children: Rosemary (Arthur) LaCroix, Thomas (Georgia) Pedtke, Carol (Cole) Colter, Richard (Mary Ann) Pedtke, and Eileen (Larry) Sshwartz. Her children provided twelve grandchildren: Marie, Michael, Matthew, and Michelle LaCroix; Brian and Rae Jean Pedtke; Kimberly, Richard, and Shannon Colter; Jennifer and Andrew Pedtke; and Erik Pedtke. To date, those twelve grandchildren have given Ceil twenty-five great grandchildren and one great great grandson!

Ceil's life was enriched by a strong focus on church and family. In 1956, the family moved to Morton Grove, IL, a suburb of Chicago where they were active members of St. Martha Church, and the Morton Grove village, including numerous children's sports programs. Many family vacations were to memorable cities including those where her two sisters, Lucille "Sister Lillian" and Lillian "Sister Charles" were assigned. Later in life as empty nesters, Ray owned a successful consulting business in the dairy industry. Ceil enjoyed being the Engineered Profit Systems office manager and traveling together often with Ray. Unfortunately, Raymond died at 66 years of age.

Ceil's own parents and siblings were noteworthy for their longevity, bur Ceil surpassed all, outliving her ten siblings and their spouses and Ray's six siblings ands their spouses. Sadly, Ceil was preceded in death by her beloved daughter Rosemary in 2014. In July 2019, at 102 years of age, living in her home in Morton Grovebecame impractical, and Ceil moved to Addolorata Villa in Wheeling, IL where Lucky was her name and Bingo was her game. While at Addolorata, she and other centarians at the center were recognized and videotaped on July 20, 2023 by WGN TV for a Medical Watch feature. Ceil's advice for longevity, being the oldest at 106, was to be happy.

After living as a widow for more than 40 years, Cecilia has joined her beloved Raymond with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.