Ludmilla and I learned that we were cousins at a virtual family reunion  6 years ago - late in life, but not too late to become good friends as well as cousins.  Her grandmother and my grandfather were siblings, and that made us second cousins.  We visited each other, and we became family to each other.  Ludmilla was a superstar - a gracious, caring, generous and outgoing person of considerable accomplishment, who was the matriarch of her family.  Sally and I wish we had known her longer, but we were lucky to have have had these last 6 years of family togetherness with her.  Our fond memories of Ludmilla are a blessing that we will not forget.  Rest in peace dear cousin.

Dear Coven Family,
I met your mother the first time in 1986, when Rafael invited me to his family home in Glencoe. Rafael and I are AIESEC friends from Ann Arbor, I was this foreign exchange student from Germany and when we arrived in Chicago I felt immediately at home. Ludmilla welcomed me with both arms, she (and Harry) opened their home to me and gave me the feeling of family and belonging I so missed after leaving my home country for an extended period of time. I came back to visit several more times, she even invited my sister to stay with them while in Chicago. Your mother was a very loving and caring person and she will be duly missed. I am a lucky person for having met her in my life.  My condolences to Rafael, Eva and Giuliana, and the extended Coven family.
Lothar Geilen

My late wife (Judy Meyer Desenberg) met Ludmilla while they were both teaching at a Skokie, IL  elementary school.  They remained best friends ever after.  Judy and I lived in a Detroit suburb, but we returned quite often to Chicagoland while her parents still lived in Highland Park; and almost always spent time with Ludmilla & Harry. I was thrilled to see (in the funeral video) a color photo of the two of them sitting next to each other on blankets/towels. It was my good fortune to have encountered this great lady.  -Jon Desenberg

Dear coven family. Please accept our sincere condolences  on ludmillas passing.  Because of medical reason we couldnt attend funeral. She was a lovely and bright woman and will  be remembered.   Merle and Sheldon Rosenfeld (sara and steve covens parents)

LUDMILLA COVEN (1930 - 2022)

	Ludmilla was simply a remarkable and phenomenal woman. I had the privilege of knowing her because my mother, Jessie, and she were best friends since they were eight years of age. She was kind, compassionate, extremely loving, interested and ever inquisitive, incredibly generous, and perhaps most importantly, wise. Had she been born into a tribal culture, she certainly would have been appointed an elder. She represented humanity and the beauty of the human spirit.
	Wisdom coupled with a wicked sense of humor made her extraordinary, a force to be reckoned with. She always had a twinkle in her eye, ever taking a thought or notion to a deeper depth. She was uniquely profound and always emphasized the importance of love, tolerance, and forgiveness.
	 One day I was talking to Maia about how I had just been hired to tutor a graduate student who had dyslexia. Not knowing students with this disability, Maia said, “Call my mother. She knows all about it.” Of course she did! I called her and received excellent advice. She was always ready to impart sage guidance.
	When I told her I was moving to Spain, she waxed on about Pablo Neruda and other cultural Spanish speaking icons. Her education and knowledge seemed ever boundless.
One of the most profound lessons I learned from this magnificent woman whom I have considered my second mother, was a depth of understanding on multiple levels. Following a conversation with her, I always felt the wiser, which would inevitably elicit a smile. 
	She is an icon, a treasure to cherish forever, and I feel greatly privileged to have known her. Like my mother’s, I will always hear that unique resonance in her voice with a full, yet now saddened heart, and am ever grateful that she improved and enriched my life and everyone else that she touched.
         Vaya con dios, Ludmilla! Te amo!

Margaret Johnstone


Ludmilla was my Grandfather's first cousin, but we never got into the specifics of relationship and just called each other cousins. She was also a teacher at New Trier while I was a student there. 
I loved stopping by her office to just chat and catch up. It was so great knowing that I had an advocate at the school. I also loved her passion for family history as I got to learn a lot from her about our roots. She was kind and lovely and will be greatly missed.

Ludimilla, was my father's first cousin. She was one of the first people we met when we immigrated to the United States and was so very welcoming.  She was one of the kindest and considerate women I've known. The last time I saw her, was last year when she dropped off a birthday gift that she purchased because it reminded her of me and my sister. I've always considered us lucky to have her in our lives.


   In 1967 , 55 years ago,  when we moved to Glencoe the first thing we did even before unpacking , we went down  to the boat beach.
There we met your mother and father, ANA grandmother and grand father, Ludmilla and Harry.  I loved Ludmilla immediately and  found we had many similar interests. 
   We both were teachers.  We both taught children who had learning problems that always led to discussions about our students' development.    
  She had the unique  ability as a left handed to produce the most beautiful penmanship, and to have memorized every friend's telephone number. 
    We also loved the beach and soon we too had a small sailboat.  We learned that Harry loved boats, being an avid  sailor, but didn't know how to swim!  
    I remember how the long bar-b-ques were set up in the late afternoon when everyone shared their surprises.  We stayed until the moon  rose and the boat house turned on the music.
    I remember those days with our wonderful friends Ludmilla and Harry.
Seymour & Iris Gottlieb

I had the privilege of teaching with Ludmilla at New Trier High School.  Even though I taught in a different department, I had many of Ludmilla's special needs students in my class.  She was so caring and attentive to her students and it was easy to work with her for so many years.  My sympathy go out to Rafael and the Coven family.

Michael O'Hare

Stories are what we all have from Ludmilla. There are so many that I almost do not know where to begin.

I can truthfully say that Ludmilla was the most memorable colleague I met in my entire career. I am a better person and was a better teacher because of her and her influence. 

Ludmilla was all about excellence and could accept nothing but 100% for herself and for those with whom she worked.  She drove us all to be our best selves, even when we were tired and ready to give up. 

Ludmilla first really came to my attention when she was President of the Teachers’ Union. She did a most amazing job and everything she said was correct, which could not be said for her opposition.

Each time I  ‘distribute’ papers in a classroom or meeting, I think of her. I remember the time when I was teaching HOLA! with her in the language lab and she took me aside afterward to tell me that ‘to distribute’ was preferable to ‘to pass out’ as I was not fainting.

In regards to her students, Ludmilla was the consummate perfect advocate and nothing would stop her if she knew she was right. That IS the way it should be. I cannot say that school districts, administrators, or even some colleagues would agree. The entire school community was better because of her and her attention to detail. 

When New Trier canceled funding for a conference that the HOLA! group was attending, I canceled my attendance but still had a plane ticket. Ludmilla graciously accepted accompanying my oldest son who thus went to visit family in the DC area and made sure he was in good hands before leaving.  She left an indelible memory in my son’s head, one that I was and am quite happy about.

Ludmilla would never ever leave a stone unturned. If she happened to be on a mission, she was indefatigable.

Recently, although she was ill and wrote me that she was terminal, she sent me info and asked me to share it with others regarding the electronic version of her dissertation.

We shall miss her.

OBITUARY

Ludmilla Coven

Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home

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