Laurentia Louise Wilson Wallace

Laurentia Louise “Lenny Lou” Wallace (née Wilson) was born July 9, 1933 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana. Her birth mother, Laurentia Alice Wilson (née Lynam) passed away in 1937, and Lenny Lou was adopted by her mother’s older sister Ellen Elizabeth Johnson (née Lynam) of Wilmette, Cook County, Illinois where Lenny Lou lived until 1973 when she moved to Evanston. Lenny Lou graduated from New Trier High School in 1951, earned an art scholarship, and went on to attend Huntingdon College, a Methodist school in Montgomery, Alabama. She was the mother of three sons: Steven, Brian, and Bill; mother-in-law to Elizabeth (née Crown) and Gayle (née Shrake) Wallace; grandmother to Ian, Devin (Rachel), Steven (Robyn), and Laura; great-grandmother to four boys and one girl: Benjamin, Zebulun, Paxon, Samuel and Ellie.

While living in Wilmette, she and her husband Richard (an international manufacturing company executive) raised three sons, pursued artwork and volunteered at church. She travelled extensively to many countries in Europe and Latin America as well as all “lower 48” states. Her favorite pastime was eating out at restaurants and painting, as well as having friendly discussion with just about anyone. She made a lot of friends anywhere she lived, and was well-known for being a Cubs fan, often taking her boys to the games at Wrigley Field. She enjoyed celebrating all holidays – even the “Hallmark Holidays” such as the holiday that could have been named for her: Sweetest Day. Of course, she never missed a St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, or Christmas; her birthday was also a special day to celebrate - always.

In her later years she lived at Birchwood Plaza Nursing Home and was known affectionately for her ability to make her needs known, but also for her kindness and sweetness. Her quick smile, sweet spirit, and infectious childlike enthusiasm will be missed greatly by all who knew her.