Nancy Jean Martin, nee Bierdemann, 89, passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 8, 2020, with her family by her side.
Born in Elgin, Nan earned a bachelor's degree from Bradley University, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority, Future Teachers of America and was named Homecoming Queen '52 and Most Beautiful Girl '52. While at Bradley she met Billy and the rest, as they say, is history.
She was a longtime Hinsdale resident and one of the founding members of the Hinsdale United Methodist Church, where she was deeply involved in United Methodist Women. A member of the Hinsdale Golf Club, she enjoyed playing tennis and golfing, but what made these activities special were the friendships she made while playing them. While successfully raising four children she restarted her career as a teacher. Upon retirement, Nan continued to share her love of people and teaching by volunteering to educate ESL students and their families from Asia, Mexico and Syria through Literacy Volunteers of DuPage.
Those who knew Nan knew she loved her birds and "digging in dirt" but probably didn't know that while living on North Lincoln Street, a prominent rose company sent her samples of new roses to evaluate in her garden there. Her love for sewing and quilting were talents she always made time for and shared with others.
She was an incredible example of a strong woman for her family, living her life with love, compassion and a fierce protective gene for those she cared about most. Those she cared about felt it deep in their bones whenever they were around her. Her family promises to carry on her legacy and make her proud.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Clarence Martin.
She is survived by her children, William "Scott" (Debora) Martin, Lani (Mark) Fabere, Laura (Peter) Marquardt and Beth (Tom) O'Neil; her grandchildren, Luella (Andrew) Klann, William "Willie" Martin, Christopher Fabere, Meagan Fabere, Peter (Lynn) Marquardt, Molly O'Neil, Erin O'Neil and Jack O'Neil; her great-grandchildren, Addison and Zoe Martin, and Corinne, Clara and Peter Klann; her brother, Richard A. (Joanne) Bierdemann; her nieces, Kay (Steve) Jettman and Susan (Curt) Sumner; and her nephew, Mike Bierdemann.
Family and friends and invited - with their favorite "Nan stories" in hand - to a celebration of life service at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at Hinsdale United Methodist Church, 945 S. Garfield Ave. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorials maybe me made to the Hinsdale United Methodist Church (UMW), 945 S. Garfield Ave., Hinsdale, IL 60521; or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society online at https://www.nationalmssociety.org.
Sullivan Funeral Home in Hinsdale handled the arrangements.
