Mary Barbara "Barb" Schlesinger, nee Wren 72, of Wilmington, formerly of Hinsdale, passed away Jan. 5, 2024.
She was born in 1951 in Chicago to Richard and Letty Wren.
Barb had a zest for life and enjoyed various hobbies throughout her years. She loved skiing when she was younger and time at the lake. She spent most of her recent days at the gym, doing workouts with her friends in Wilmington.
Barb's educational journey began at St. John Fischer Primary School and continued at Mother McCauley High School. In her career she was most associated with St. Isaac Jogues in Hinsdale, where she was a teacher's aide. She also was a volunteer with the Hinsdale Humane Society.
She cherished her school years and the friendships she formed during that time. After high school, she became closest with her life-long friends, Roger and Barb Layland, Mike and Jean Slott, JR and Priscilla Jokema, and Ed and Jean Baggett, whom she knew for more than 50 years.
Barb will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who knew her.
Barb was preceded in death by her husband, Otto J. "Jim" Schlesinger.
She is survived by her fiancé, Jon Prodehl; her children, Otto (Amy) Schlesinger, Tim Schlesinger and Kim (Chris) Duchene; her grandchildren, Lily and Jack Schlesinger, Lauren and Tyler Duchene and Ian and River Christenson; her siblings, Richard "Doc" (Sue) Wren, Leticia "Tish" Degnan and Walter "Wally" (Sheila) Wren; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation is at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at Adolf & Powell Funeral Home, 7000 S. Madison St., Willowbrook.
A funeral service will follow at the funeral home at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made online to the American Heart Association at http://www.heart.org or the American Diabetes Association at http://www.donors.diabetes.org.
