Ann's Obit

Ann Petta of Elgin A funeral Mass for Ann Petta (nee Stull), 82, formerly of Hyde Park, will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 12, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Elgin. Read more. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, at the Laird Funeral Home, Elgin, and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass Thursday morning at the church. Born Dec. 3, 1926, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late Wilfred and Irene (Taylor) Stull, she passed away Sunday, March 8, 2009. Mrs. Ann Petta was born Ann Stull in St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Petta moved to Chicago after graduating from Webster College, a Catholic women's college at the time. Mrs. Petta, or Ann, moved to Chicago to work at Friendship House, an organization dedicated to improving race relations. Mrs. Petta taught English at Kelly High School in Chicago for 30 years. In addition to teaching, Ann was interested in solar energy and became very involved in the Pro-Life Movement as well as promoting and enjoying the writings of G. K. Chesterton. Mrs. Petta was a founder of the Hyde Park/Kenwood Pro-Life Association in 1984, and the Respect Life Committee in 1980. Mrs. Petta was a board member of the Illinois Federation for the Right to Life and the Illinois Right to Life Committee. Mrs. Petta worked with other Pro-Life and pregnancy help organizations including the Pro-Life/Pro-Family Coalition, where she worked closely with Dr. Hiram Crawford Sr. and Dr. Hiram Crawford Jr. Mrs. Petta was a founder of The Midwest Chesterton Society and active in The American Chesterton Society. A daily communicant at her Catholic parish, St. Thomas the Apostle in Hyde Park, then St. Thomas More in Elgin, Mrs. Petta's Catholic faith filled her with joy and gratitude. Her joy was engulfing to those who met and knew Ann. Her sense of mirthful awe, wonder, and piety pointed to the charitable Catholic approach to God, and all who knew her felt the persuasion of her faith. Mr. and Mrs. Petta were appreciated in the Chesterton circles for their "Petta wine" made from grapes picked near their cottage in Michigan. No Chesterton gathering was complete without that delicious, if mysterious, basement fermentation. A large group of nieces, nephews and cousins with surnames of Stull, MauIler, Hilliard, Brown, Hobold, Taylor, Diehl and others, survive Mrs. Petta. She also held dear her large group of friends from all areas of her life. She was preceded in death by Frank Petta, her husband of seven years. Memorial donations may be made to Human Life International, National Right to Life, any Pro-Life organization, and to The American Chesterton Society. For information, 847-741-8800.

Published in the Chicago Suburban Daily Herald from 3/10/2009 - 3/11/2009