Leila Ronning Creates a Beary, Merry Holiday for Family Members

For several months, Leila Ronning has been making precious holiday gifts for her 12 great-grandchildren. A skilled knitting artisan, Ronning works from a favorite pattern to create stunningly beautiful bears that are sure to be among the most cherished family gifts under the tree.

“I want to make something really special for them,” Ronning said with heart-felt  sentiments. “Each little bear has love attached to it.”

Ronning, a resident of King-Bruwaert House in Burr Ridge, has been sharing her talents with others for years.  In addition to making the soft and cuddly smiling bears, she also custom designs sports bears and winter hats featuring Chicago team colors and lettering.  With pride she points out that each bear takes
about a week to complete. The bears sit comfortably in a large basket and they
will eventually be wrapped and delivered to the youngest Ronnings.

Ronning dedicates herself to making knitted blankets, slippers and other items for men and women in the military and local families in need. She has also mastered the fine art skills relating to embroidery, needlepoint and cross stitch work.

Popular with an abundance of friends and relatives who visit her daily and weekly, Ronning has the ability to multi-task - engaging in pleasant conversations while
keeping her hands busy with delicate knitting and needlepoint work. She
surrounds herself with artistic keepsakes that remind her of loved ones and
friends from her past.

“A gift that has been hand-made by someone holds a permanent place in your heart,” she said. “I want my great-grandchildren to have something that will always have meaning for them.”