Anna T. Zeken

Anna was born on April 16, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois to Thomas and Mary Kerrigan. Shortly afterwards, the family returned to County Mayo, Ireland, where she was raised and got into devilment with her five siblings. She returned to the United States with her Uncle Michael Heneghan, moving in with her Uncle “Pa” and “Ma” Lally in Chicago, when she was 19. Like every other Irish girl in Chicago, she began her lifelong career at Illinois Bell.

On September 5, 1957, she married Gerald Gilbert Zeken, and they started a family, moving to Arlington Heights, Illinois. She lived there until downsizing to a home in Buffalo Grove later in life.

She always had a smile and a welcome, and lots of love for all her family, both here and abroad.

She was preceded in death by her parents Mary (Heneghan) and Thomas Kerrigan, and her siblings and their husbands – Catherine Bartholomew (Joseph); Mary Waldron (James); Margaret Hederich (Harold); Thomas Kerrigan; and brother-in-law John Moynahan. Other deceased loved ones include her husband Gerald G. Zeken; parents-in-law Carl and Helen Wojciechowski Zeken; and sister-in-law Sharon Zeken Ams (Terry).

Survivors include her children Cheryl (Richard) Malone; Paula Anne Coletto; and Thomas (Anita) Zeken, and grandchildren Chet (Amanda) Zeken; Jessica Coletto (Pat) Scott; Caitlin Anne Malone; Ryan Coletto; Tyler (Chelsea) Zeken; and Jordan (Sarah) Zeken. Great grandchildren are Hudson and Emersyn Zeken (Tyler); Lilah Anne Coletto Scott (Jessica); and Baby Zeken (Jordan), a player to be named later.

Anna is survived by her sister Noreen Kerrigan Moynahan, sister-in-law Sandra Zeken Sluga (Johnny), and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Wear a little leopard print to honor our beloved “Gaga” at her visitation on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital (@luriechildren) in thanks for their care of Anna’s great nephew Theo.

Visitation will be Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 North Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004. Funeral on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from St. Edna’s Roman Catholic Church, 2525 North Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, with viewing at the church at 9:00 a.m. followed by mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois, 700 N. River Road 60016.