Mary Corinne Aldridge, nee Bauer, born in Chicago to William F. and Lucille R. Bauer died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at the age of 95 at Lexington Square Elmhurst. Her early years were spent on Chicago’s South Side, St. Laurence Parish; she attended Aquinas Dominican High School. The family moved to Elmhurst in 1941; she graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in 1943; attended St. Joseph Nurse Training School in Aurora and, later in life, went to Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, where she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Wherever she resided, Mary became involved in community activities, special interest or environmental projects with dedication, energy and cheerful enthusiasm. A lifelong member of the National Audubon Society, she was President of the Park Ridge Audubon Society, a member of the Chicago Division Open Lands Project, and a charter member of the Peacock Prairie Restoration group. While living in Ohio she served as President of Dayton Children’s Medical Center Auxiliary Twig Organization; became a member of P.E.O Sisterhood; was an Ohio Historical Society tour guide, curator and administrator of the Walton House Museum in Centerville.
Returning to Elmhurst in 1989, she joined the Elmhurst Garden Club where she was active from the very start, and for many years after, helping to decorate the Elmhurst Public Library display cases for the holiday season. In 1998 she was honored as Elmhurst Garden Club Person of the Year for her faithful and constant commitment to the Club, her community, and to the environment. She served on numerous EGC committees including Horticulture, Flower Show, Publicity, Hospitality, Advisory, Ways and Means, Designs and Exhibits, and Corresponding Secretary. She had a passion for conservation and environmental education and served as Chair of the Conservation Committee for five terms. She also served for many years as an Elmhurst Park District volunteer, a member of the Prairie Management Commission and was involved in the early planning stages for the Elmhurst Great Western Prairie. She was well-read in everything about natural resources, the environment, and conservation. Her knowledge of birds was legendary and her gardens were always a haven for them. Her artistic bent for holiday decorating was evident in her seasonal displays in her homes. In her 80s, she joined a lively book group of much younger women and when physical activity became limited, she took up watercolor painting. Mary’s outgoing personality, sense of humor and bright smile brought sunshine into any room she entered and enlivened any project in which she was involved. Mary was the beloved wife of the late James W. Aldridge; loving mother of Susan Kreuz (Kevin) McCoyd, Debra Kreuz (Werner) Seubert and the late Mark A. Kreuz Sr. and Maura Kreuz (Jeffrey) Hurless; cherished grandmother of Patrick (Kristin) McCoyd, Kathryn (Patrick) Foy, Matthew (Teresa) McCoyd, Elaine Kreuz, Erin (Dominick) Sannasardo, Mark A. (Lindsay) Kreuz, Jr., Grant Hurless, Erik (Dorsa) Seubert, Diana (Sunny) Yoo, Lauren (David) Campbell, and Anya Seubert; great-grandmother of Aidan, Mia, Audrey, Quinn, Paddy, Declan, Molly, Connor, Avery, Taylor, Evie, Ellie, Liam, Quinn, Jensen, Finley, Kora, Heath, Archer, William, Elliott, Faye; dear sister of Hon. William J. Bauer (Hon. Patricia Spratt and the late Mike) and the late James G. (Patricia) Bauer; dear aunt of Lin Bauer, Pat Bauer-Cooper (Bill), Julie Bauer-Greenberg (Paul) and the late Lisa C. Bauer; devoted companion of caregiver Angie Sta Agueda.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 20 from 3 until 7 p.m. at Gibbons Funeral Home, 134 South York Road, (½ mile north of St. Charles Road), Elmhurst. Friends and family will meet Wednesday, July 21, for a Mass of Christian Burial, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 134 Arthur St., Elmhurst. Interment Private. Memorials may be made to the Elmhurst Garden Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 383, Elmhurst, IL 60126. For funeral information, please call 630-832-0018 or www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com
