Betty A. Ahrens ∼ 1929-2008
Former First Lady of Rolling Meadows
Ahrens was always at husband's side
The Brownsville Herald, Brownsville, Texas • Thursday, February 9, 2008 • Page 30
∼The City of Rolling Meadows lost one of its more prominent residents this week.
Betty A. Ahrens, the wife of former Mayor William D. Ahrens, passed away Sunday. The former 41-year Rolling Meadows resident, was 78. Though Mrs. Ahrens had lived in Florida since 1991, her years in Rolling Meadows had been memorable. She went from a housewife and busy mother of five to become the First Lady of Rolling Meadows from 1979 to 1990.
"I'm not sure (the public spotlight is) something she ever would have sought," said Mary Rock of Rolling Meadows, whose husband, John, served as an alderman in Rolling Meadows.
"She supported Bill's career, and always backed him up, but she preferred to stay in the background."
The couple moved to Rolling Meadows in 1960, only five years after it incorporated. With their growing young family, they became involved in a variety of local activities, including city government. Mr. Ahrens eventually ran for a seat on the city council, and served two terms before being elected mayor.
He resigned in the middle of his term in 1990 because of health concerns, leading the couple to retire to Florida. However, his imprint on the city remained, and by extension, hers.
In 1997, the Daily Herald named Mr. Ahrens as one of the top powerbrokers who had helped to shape the Northwest suburbs. During his years in office, Mrs. Ahrens attended all public functions with her husband, from social gatherings to parades and dedication ceremonies.
"Where Bill was, she was," Mary Rock adds. She stopped short of attending city council meetings, friends say, leaving the business of running the city, to her husband.
"I just remember them on the dance floor at all the old Christmas parties," says Linda Blane, whose husband, Rod, was the city's community development director. "They made an attractive couple."
The couple made lasting friends in their Rolling Meadows neighborhood, and gathered regularly every Sunday to watch football games together.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Ahrens is survived by her children, including Debra (Joseph) Stoltman, Linda (Paul) Posco, William Jr. (Laura), Pamela Ahrens and Betty Ann Suchala; 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.∼Betty A. Ahrens formerly of Rolling Meadows
Services for Betty A. Ahrens (nee Me Kee), age 78, of Winter Garden, Florida, will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, at Meadows Funeral Home, 3615 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows.
Interment: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home.
Mrs. Ahrens died Sunday, February 3, 2008 at Palm of Park Place in Kissimmee, Florida.
She was the wife of William D. Ahrens, former mayor of Rolling Meadows; mother of Debra (Joseph) Stoltman, Linda (Paul) Posco, William D. (Laura) Ahrens, Jr. , Pamela Ahrens and Betty Ann Suchala; grandmother of 14; great-grandmother of two; and sister of Patricia Behenna, Joan (Carl) Pfisterer and Richard McKee.
Funeral mass 10 a.m. today at St. Colette Church, 3615 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows.
Published: The Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Illinois • Tuesday, February 5, 2008 • Page 30
Former First Lady of Rolling Meadows
Ahrens was always at husband's side
The Brownsville Herald, Brownsville, Texas • Thursday, February 9, 2008 • Page 30
∼The City of Rolling Meadows lost one of its more prominent residents this week.
Betty A. Ahrens, the wife of former Mayor William D. Ahrens, passed away Sunday. The former 41-year Rolling Meadows resident, was 78. Though Mrs. Ahrens had lived in Florida since 1991, her years in Rolling Meadows had been memorable. She went from a housewife and busy mother of five to become the First Lady of Rolling Meadows from 1979 to 1990.
"I'm not sure (the public spotlight is) something she ever would have sought," said Mary Rock of Rolling Meadows, whose husband, John, served as an alderman in Rolling Meadows.
"She supported Bill's career, and always backed him up, but she preferred to stay in the background."
The couple moved to Rolling Meadows in 1960, only five years after it incorporated. With their growing young family, they became involved in a variety of local activities, including city government. Mr. Ahrens eventually ran for a seat on the city council, and served two terms before being elected mayor.
He resigned in the middle of his term in 1990 because of health concerns, leading the couple to retire to Florida. However, his imprint on the city remained, and by extension, hers.
In 1997, the Daily Herald named Mr. Ahrens as one of the top powerbrokers who had helped to shape the Northwest suburbs. During his years in office, Mrs. Ahrens attended all public functions with her husband, from social gatherings to parades and dedication ceremonies.
"Where Bill was, she was," Mary Rock adds. She stopped short of attending city council meetings, friends say, leaving the business of running the city, to her husband.
"I just remember them on the dance floor at all the old Christmas parties," says Linda Blane, whose husband, Rod, was the city's community development director. "They made an attractive couple."
The couple made lasting friends in their Rolling Meadows neighborhood, and gathered regularly every Sunday to watch football games together.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Ahrens is survived by her children, including Debra (Joseph) Stoltman, Linda (Paul) Posco, William Jr. (Laura), Pamela Ahrens and Betty Ann Suchala; 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.∼Betty A. Ahrens formerly of Rolling Meadows
Services for Betty A. Ahrens (nee Me Kee), age 78, of Winter Garden, Florida, will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, at Meadows Funeral Home, 3615 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows.
Interment: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home.
Mrs. Ahrens died Sunday, February 3, 2008 at Palm of Park Place in Kissimmee, Florida.
She was the wife of William D. Ahrens, former mayor of Rolling Meadows; mother of Debra (Joseph) Stoltman, Linda (Paul) Posco, William D. (Laura) Ahrens, Jr. , Pamela Ahrens and Betty Ann Suchala; grandmother of 14; great-grandmother of two; and sister of Patricia Behenna, Joan (Carl) Pfisterer and Richard McKee.
Funeral mass 10 a.m. today at St. Colette Church, 3615 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows.
Published: The Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Illinois • Tuesday, February 5, 2008 • Page 30
Betty A. Ahrens ∼ 1929-2008
Former First Lady of Rolling Meadows
Ahrens was always at husband's side
The Brownsville Herald, Brownsville, Texas • Thursday, February 9, 2008 • Page 30
∼The City of Rolling Meadows lost one of its more prominent residents this week.
Betty A. Ahrens, the wife of former Mayor William D. Ahrens, passed away Sunday. The former 41-year Rolling Meadows resident, was 78. Though Mrs. Ahrens had lived in Florida since 1991, her years in Rolling Meadows had been memorable. She went from a housewife and busy mother of five to become the First Lady of Rolling Meadows from 1979 to 1990.
"I'm not sure (the public spotlight is) something she ever would have sought," said Mary Rock of Rolling Meadows, whose husband, John, served as an alderman in Rolling Meadows.
"She supported Bill's career, and always backed him up, but she preferred to stay in the background."
The couple moved to Rolling Meadows in 1960, only five years after it incorporated. With their growing young family, they became involved in a variety of local activities, including city government. Mr. Ahrens eventually ran for a seat on the city council, and served two terms before being elected mayor.
He resigned in the middle of his term in 1990 because of health concerns, leading the couple to retire to Florida. However, his imprint on the city remained, and by extension, hers.
In 1997, the Daily Herald named Mr. Ahrens as one of the top powerbrokers who had helped to shape the Northwest suburbs. During his years in office, Mrs. Ahrens attended all public functions with her husband, from social gatherings to parades and dedication ceremonies.
"Where Bill was, she was," Mary Rock adds. She stopped short of attending city council meetings, friends say, leaving the business of running the city, to her husband.
"I just remember them on the dance floor at all the old Christmas parties," says Linda Blane, whose husband, Rod, was the city's community development director. "They made an attractive couple."
The couple made lasting friends in their Rolling Meadows neighborhood, and gathered regularly every Sunday to watch football games together.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Ahrens is survived by her children, including Debra (Joseph) Stoltman, Linda (Paul) Posco, William Jr. (Laura), Pamela Ahrens and Betty Ann Suchala; 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.∼Betty A. Ahrens formerly of Rolling Meadows
Services for Betty A. Ahrens (nee Me Kee), age 78, of Winter Garden, Florida, will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, at Meadows Funeral Home, 3615 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows.
Interment: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home.
Mrs. Ahrens died Sunday, February 3, 2008 at Palm of Park Place in Kissimmee, Florida.
She was the wife of William D. Ahrens, former mayor of Rolling Meadows; mother of Debra (Joseph) Stoltman, Linda (Paul) Posco, William D. (Laura) Ahrens, Jr. , Pamela Ahrens and Betty Ann Suchala; grandmother of 14; great-grandmother of two; and sister of Patricia Behenna, Joan (Carl) Pfisterer and Richard McKee.
Funeral mass 10 a.m. today at St. Colette Church, 3615 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows.
Published: The Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Illinois • Tuesday, February 5, 2008 • Page 30
Former First Lady of Rolling Meadows
Ahrens was always at husband's side
The Brownsville Herald, Brownsville, Texas • Thursday, February 9, 2008 • Page 30
∼The City of Rolling Meadows lost one of its more prominent residents this week.
Betty A. Ahrens, the wife of former Mayor William D. Ahrens, passed away Sunday. The former 41-year Rolling Meadows resident, was 78. Though Mrs. Ahrens had lived in Florida since 1991, her years in Rolling Meadows had been memorable. She went from a housewife and busy mother of five to become the First Lady of Rolling Meadows from 1979 to 1990.
"I'm not sure (the public spotlight is) something she ever would have sought," said Mary Rock of Rolling Meadows, whose husband, John, served as an alderman in Rolling Meadows.
"She supported Bill's career, and always backed him up, but she preferred to stay in the background."
The couple moved to Rolling Meadows in 1960, only five years after it incorporated. With their growing young family, they became involved in a variety of local activities, including city government. Mr. Ahrens eventually ran for a seat on the city council, and served two terms before being elected mayor.
He resigned in the middle of his term in 1990 because of health concerns, leading the couple to retire to Florida. However, his imprint on the city remained, and by extension, hers.
In 1997, the Daily Herald named Mr. Ahrens as one of the top powerbrokers who had helped to shape the Northwest suburbs. During his years in office, Mrs. Ahrens attended all public functions with her husband, from social gatherings to parades and dedication ceremonies.
"Where Bill was, she was," Mary Rock adds. She stopped short of attending city council meetings, friends say, leaving the business of running the city, to her husband.
"I just remember them on the dance floor at all the old Christmas parties," says Linda Blane, whose husband, Rod, was the city's community development director. "They made an attractive couple."
The couple made lasting friends in their Rolling Meadows neighborhood, and gathered regularly every Sunday to watch football games together.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Ahrens is survived by her children, including Debra (Joseph) Stoltman, Linda (Paul) Posco, William Jr. (Laura), Pamela Ahrens and Betty Ann Suchala; 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.∼Betty A. Ahrens formerly of Rolling Meadows
Services for Betty A. Ahrens (nee Me Kee), age 78, of Winter Garden, Florida, will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, at Meadows Funeral Home, 3615 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows.
Interment: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home.
Mrs. Ahrens died Sunday, February 3, 2008 at Palm of Park Place in Kissimmee, Florida.
She was the wife of William D. Ahrens, former mayor of Rolling Meadows; mother of Debra (Joseph) Stoltman, Linda (Paul) Posco, William D. (Laura) Ahrens, Jr. , Pamela Ahrens and Betty Ann Suchala; grandmother of 14; great-grandmother of two; and sister of Patricia Behenna, Joan (Carl) Pfisterer and Richard McKee.
Funeral mass 10 a.m. today at St. Colette Church, 3615 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows.
Published: The Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Illinois • Tuesday, February 5, 2008 • Page 30
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