Edith Mae Macdonald

Edith (Ede) Mae Macdonald, a shining example of love and generosity, passed away peacefully with her husband and children by her side on January 8, 2025, at the age of 81, after a courageous six-year battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Born on September 4, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, her life was a testament to the power of unwavering dedication to family and the joy that comes from life’s treasured moments. 

On January 30,1964, Ede married her soulmate, Alan Holt Macdonald, in a ceremony in St. Joseph, Michigan. Together, they embarked on a journey of love and companionship that would span 60 years. They lived in Evanston, Illinois where they began their family, before moving to Elmhurst where they dedicated 30 years to raising their children and seeing them grow into adulthood. In 2001, they moved to their home in Algonquin on the Fox River, which became the heart of family and friend gatherings. Ede enjoyed boating on the river, watching her husband and grandchildren fish from their pier, and feeding the wildlife at their riverside haven. She loved hosting parties, sitting around bonfires, and cooking for her loved ones while creating an environment where cherished memories were made.

Ede and Alan then retired to Cape Coral, Florida, where they enjoyed five years of sunshine and coastal living. In 2016, after missing the closeness of family and friends they decided to move back to Illinois to live with Doris and her family in Oswego. Throughout the years, Ede's passion for travel took her and Alan to beautiful destinations such as Hawaii and Cancun, and she indulged in her hobby of collecting seashells on the Sanibel Island beaches.

We honor and celebrate the extraordinary life of Ede who was truly the cornerstone of her family. She gave endlessly, loved deeply, and left behind a legacy of kindness and warmth that will continue to guide and inspire her family for many years to come. Her passion for life and the joy she found in the simple act of caring for her family, and her love of taking care of family pets will always be remembered and cherished. Her spirit, love, and memories will forever be held in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her.

Ede is survived by her loving husband, Alan Holt Macdonald, her children and their spouses, Alan Todd (Kim) Macdonald, April Jean (Steve) Swanson, Heather Lynn (Keith) Izumi, and Doris Mae (Jason) Santos. Her warmth and nurturing spirit were also a source of comfort and joy to her grandchildren, Kenny (Gina) LeVey, Matthew (Aaron) LeVey, Eric (Tracy) Heimer, Elise Izumi, Hayden Izumi, Michael Santos, and Sophia Santos.  She also took immense pride in being a great-grandmother to Ellis LeVey, Beatrice LeVey, Kaiden Heimer, and Kody Heimer.  Among her loving family, she is also survived by her cousin Merrill Hermann. She was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Esther (Hermann) Payne and her sister, Trudy Iverson.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm, with a memorial service held at 4:30pm at the Bauman Family Funeral Home, 5600 U.S. Route 34, Oswego, IL. 60543.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to the Lewy Body Dementia Association.

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