Noreen M. Kruse

Noreen M. Kruse nee Stewart, age 62, of Chicago, IL; passed away peacefully on Monday, October 6, 2025. Daughter to the late William and Rosemary Stewart. Cherished wife of Donald Kruse; loving mother of Shawn Kruse, Regina Kruse, Casey Kruse and Kyle (Jenikka) Kruse; companion puppy of Willy; favorite sister of Terry (Janice) Stewart, Phillip Stewart and the late William (Ellen) Stewart; proud aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Noreen Kruse grew up in the Ashburn neighborhood or as a true southsider would say, “St. Dennis Parish”. She always liked to say she grew up and lived on 85th street her whole life. She attended Owen elementary school and St. Dennis church and continuing her education at Queen of Peace High School.

She was an active member in the political field through the 18th ward and the Ashburn Civic Associations. If she was not walking around the neighborhood getting signatures for different petitions, she was either at the polling stations passing out voter cards or helping out at different neighborhood fundraisers.

When she was not baking cookies and cakes, or Irish Soda Bread for her kids, she spent a lot of time up in the Northwoods of Wisconsin walking around the roads or thru the fields trying to find the elusive deer. While there she spent time going into town and going to visit the local shops buying different t-shirts every chance she got. She also enjoyed going on the boat and fishing while she was up there, though she would never put the worm on the hook or take the fish off herself.

While at home she enjoyed crocheting baby blankets for all the new little ones that came into her life either for her friends or her family. She enjoyed spending the springtime to take care of her flower garden. Her favorite flower to grow were Peonies and Sweet Alyssums. She enjoyed making dinner for her family, but most of all she enjoyed feeding the dog “people” food even though her husband said he should not eat any of the human food. Her favorite catchphrase to say to her kids when they were being bad was “I’m the meanest mom on 85th Street. She would say it constantly to them, though they knew she was the exact opposite of that.

Her kids would say her favorite thing to do on the computer was to play Spider Solitaire, spending a good 48 hours a day playing it. When she was not playing that, she would love to waste her husband's money, going on shopping sprees for her or her kids, and buying the $5 crossword lottery tickets, with the occasional spoiling of herself with the $20 ticket instead. However, we will never know if she broke even.

To her friends, family, and neighbors that knew her well, they knew that she was always there to lend a hand, a shoulder to cry on, or a beer to drink. Quote her cousin Peg Imber, “She would always sum up a situation with three words and a chuckle.” She will be missed by many here but welcomed into heaven by many there!

Lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Association would be greatly appreciated for Noreen in her memory. Please use this link below:

https://everloved.com/life-of/noreen-kruse

Visitation Monday, October 13th, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Andrew J. McGann & Sons Funeral Home, 10727 S. Pulaski Rd. Chicago. Funeral Tuesday, October 14th, 9:15 a.m. from Andrew J. McGann & Sons Funeral Home to St. Bede the Venerable Church, 8200 S. Kostner Ave. Chicago, for Mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment St. Mary Cemetery, Evergreen Park. For information, please call (773) 783-7700.