Marilyn E. Bauer, nee Pfister, age 94, of Des Plaines, formerly of Skokie and Hot Springs Village, AR. Beloved wife of Deacon Bernard L.; dear mother of Catherine and Mark Bauer, Mary (the late Allen) Moore, Joan Sutherland, Michael (Cindy) and James (Elizabeth) Bauer; loving grandmother of Christopher Bauer (Rachel), Mia Kennel (Jeff), Mark E. Bauer, Aaron Barton (Ania), Ryan Barton (Carrie), Courtney Moore, Josef Sutherland (Nellidene), Janeen Sutherland, Joanna Hancox (Alistair), Jenny Salazar (Adrian), Kenny Bauer, Eric Bauer (Sabrina), Madison Pestka (Adam), and Trace Bauer; cherished great-grandmother of Austin, Levi, Leah, Jackson, Carter, Olivia, Henry, Samuel, Christopher, Jacob, Joey, Matt, Nathan, Lucas, Eric Jr., Lucas, and Sophia; fond sister of Margaret (the late John) Guercio and Helene (the late Ronald) Mattes; dear sister-in-law of Clarence (Elmira) Bauer; aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Marilyn was always proud of her first successful venture into the working world as a legal secretary to the president of the Chicago Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union, leaving to raise the first of her six children in 1948. She and Bernie eventually settled in Skokie and quickly became active members in Saint Peter’s Parish.

With young children, Marilyn and Bernie joined the Christian Family Movement (CFM) to support raising their family with the best Christian ideals.  Marilyn joined the church choir and remained for 34 years. She performed at Orchestra Hall the Halleluiah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah with the Chicagoland combined city choir and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Later, she started the Phoenix support group for divorced women, and Rainbows for All God’s Children for the parish’s bereaved children. In 1980, Marilyn became the supportive deacon’s wife to Bernie upon his ordination into the permanent diaconate in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Marilyn worked for AAA Answering Service, managing several operators of an old-style plug-in switchboard. Later she became the secretary for St. Peter United Church of Christ, endearing herself to the congregation with her supportive ear and sensitive heart.

Bernie and Marilyn retired to Hot Springs Village in the summer of 1989, joining Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish and quickly becoming involved as a deacon couple. They hosted weekly prayer group meetings in their home. Marilyn took on her own separate interests including the coordination of a volunteer roster of 60 eucharistic ministers and lectors.

When getting around became more difficult Mom spent most of her time at home, never easing up on contributing something. Mom not only perfected her famous poppy seed pound cake recipe, she often gifted lovely plates of home-made cookie confections. As another past time, our mother would spend hours pouring over the many greeting cards sent to both her and Dad. She never threw away a card with a personal message and cherished the loving words expressed by family and friends.