Elizabeth A. (Madden) Tell

Elizabeth "Betty" Tell, of Morton Grove, beloved wife of the late William A.; dear mother of Chris (the late Michael) Grene, Betsy (Carey) Hidaka, Bill (Mary) and Dan (Alice); loving grandmother of Kiki, Jess, Dan, Cait, Bob, Laura, Chris, Duck, Cassie,Sean and Nik; cherished great grandmother of Aidan, Ava, Emma, Sophie, Emerson and Will; fond sister of the late Peggy Parent, Catherine Cronin, James Madden, Mary Olsen and Joan Madden. Funeral and interment will be held privately. Memorials in her name may be made to American Cancer Society 225 N. Michigan Ave. Ste. 1200 Chicago, IL 60601. For live streaming go to https://vimeo.com/516310054/a17261805c.

Elizabeth (Betty) A. Tell 

Elizabeth Ann Marie Madden Tell was born to Emmett and Marie (Quinn) Madden on July 4th, 1920. She lived her later years and died in the home of her daughter Elizabeth (Tell) and son-in-law Carey Hidaka on February 18th, 2021 at the age of 100 years and 6 months.  She blessed their home and family with her special gifts of Irish humor, laughter, and much wisdom about life from the perspective of a centenarian. 

 Elizabeth (Betty) was the third of six Madden children proudly growing up in a family that embraced their Catholic faith and actively participated in Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.  Betty attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic grammar school, followed by Immaculata High School, graduating in1938.  Post high school Betty worked for TWA at Midway, as well as the Salvation Army while attending Loyola University. It was here that she met her husband Bill with whom she raised four children in Morton Grove, actively participating in St. Martha’s Parish for many years.  Being an Irish Catholic and creating a close and loving family, like the Madden Family she descended from, were driving forces in her life. 

Betty was a born athlete who took great pride in being her father’s “ball player”, being captain of her high school basketball team, marrying a professional baseball player, and playing a mean game of tennis well into her 80’s.  A true competitor, she believed in life long learning, and was diverse in her interests.  She loved opera, classical music, tennis, bridge, traveling and shopping.  Consistent with those interests, she loved Pavoratti, Yo Yo Ma, Roger Federer, Hawaii, Marshall Fields and the many infamous bridge partners she had at St Martha’s. 

In addition to raising four children with Bill, Betty was a Girl Scout Leader and Troop Organizer, frequent lunchroom supervisor, and administrative assistant to the principal of St. Martha’s while her children moved through their grammar school years.  Eventually, she began working at Mundelein College, followed by Baxter Laboratories, and the Village of Morton Grove. The majority of her career was spent at Baxter where she was one of the first women supervisors of the Order Department, and a Logistics Analyst.  She was a great mentor to the young women who worked in her department, some of whom remained connected to her throughout the remainder of her life. 

Once retired from Baxter, Betty began her long career of becoming “Gamma”, or “G” as her grandchildren lovingly refer to her.  She was tireless in giving time and energy to enhance the lives of her ten grandchildren.  For many years, she  cooked weekly Sunday night dinners for the whole family, hosted numerous holidays, babysat whenever needed, attended endless sporting events, the graduations of all of ten grandchildren, and the marriages of seven of them with her husband Bill. She was enchanted and elated at the birth of her great grandchildren: Aidan, Emma, Ava, Sophie, Emerson and Will.

If you knew Betty, you would recognize her quick wit, delightful sense of humor, active mind, and great love of people.  She was ever vibrant and unstoppable in the pursuit of protecting and nurturing those she loved. She was a beloved daughter, a fun-loving and dedicated sister, a dedicated wife, a proud and sacrificing mother, a treasured Grandmother and Great Grandmother, a favorite Aunt to many of her nieces and nephews, and the best friend of Gloria Falkovitz. She is the very essence of Motherhood and one with whom we know her “Good Lord” is well pleased.

We can’t wait to see those smiling Irish eyes again.  RIP Gam.

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