Esther Rosina Bien

Esther R. Bien (Edelman), of Lake Zurich, formerly of Northlake, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at the age of 97.

She was born December 13, 1922 in Farming, Minnesota, the oldest daughter out of 12 children of the late Albert Joseph and Elizabeth Ann Backes.

Esther came to Chicago during WWII to work for the US Treasury Department where she would meet her husband, William Harold Edelman. They were married until his passing in 1964. She later took a position with Automatic Electric as an Executive Secretary where she would meet her second husband, Casey Bien. Esther was a long-time resident of Northlake where she was active with St. John Vianney Catholic Church and her seniors club. She lived a long, healthy life enjoying travel and spending time with her family.

Esther is survived by her children, Russell (Christine) Edelman, Larry (Layla) Edelman, Gail Williams; her step-children, Barbara (Jim) Weidig and Connie (Len) Gonsewski; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Keith, Joe, Liam, Frank, Gregory, Carla, Meghan, Melissa and Ricki; her 13 great-grandchildren; and her siblings, Irene Plantenberg, Rosalie Thomas, Joan Grueber and James Backes.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, William Harold Edelman; her second husband, Casey Bien; and her siblings, George Backes, Eugene Backes, Millie Schulte, Florence Patterson, Melda Sparth, Karl Backes, and Marie Ebnet.

The funeral Mass will be held Friday, January 31, 2020 at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 46 N Wolf Rd, Northlake, IL 60164. Burial will follow at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, Hillside.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Esther’s memory to the charity of your choice or to Parkinson’s Foundation at http://www.parkinson.org or to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org .