Mathilda Williams, 94, Lake Forest

Mathilda Marie Williams died peacefully on April 17, 2023 with her loving family by her side. Mathilda was the adoring and loving wife of her predeceased husband Donald Bray Williams of 50 years, daughter of her predeceased parents Vincent and Estelle Nay, proud mother to daughter, Teresa Marie Martino (Howard) and son, Christopher Donald Williams, relished her role as DeeDee to her two lovely granddaughters, Isabella Rose Martino and Gianna Marie Martino, and loving sister to Conrad and Rita, and, plus five predeceased siblings sisters Adele, Dorothy, Virginia, Lorraine, and brother, Vincent, Jr. and aunt to numerous nieces and nephews around the world. She was born in Chicago, attended Mundelein College in Chicago, attended Northwestern University Evening School in Chicago and a member of Chi Delta Alpha Sorority, a NU Evening School Sorority. During her college days she became an accomplished equestrian taking riding instructions at Bernard Christianson’s Riding Academy in Chicago where she rode in many horse shows in Lincoln Park, winning awards and often pleasure rode through Lincoln Park along Lake Michigan.

After Mundelein she found a career in Chicago Advertising Agencies, Young & Rubicam and from there moved on to another agency Foote, Cone and Belding Advertising Agency where she was an Executive Secretary on the Hallmark Account for print and television and where she met a handsome young man and married her one and only love, Don Williams, Executive Vice President, Creative Director of Foote, Cone & Belding. After honeymooning in Hawaii they moved into their brand new home in Lake Forest in 1962 and raised their two beautiful children, Teresa Marie and Christopher Donald. She cherished her role as a mother and involved herself in their activities. Mathilda lived her life as a passionate loving wife, mother and grandmother. Mathilda's family was always her main priority, her devotion and love for them was immeasurable. Her travels always included her family.

She loved boating with her beloved husband, Don, and spending week ends on their 36 ft. Cabin Cruiser, the “TILDA” on Lake Geneva, WI with their children Terri and Christopher. They enjoyed entertaining friends and extended family on the “TILDA” serving gourmet meals for many years.

She enjoyed family trips i.e., Henley on the Thames, England, Royal Henley Regatta, where their son, Christopher, rowed for his school, Groton Prep School, Groton, Massachusetts. The family also enjoyed trips to France, Spain, Hawaii, Bermuda, Nassau, Jamaica, Santa Domingo, Acapulco, Cancun, Scottsdale, AZ, Aspen, CO, Naples, Ft. Meyers, Sarasota, Marco Island, FL, San Francisco and in later years enjoyed years of golf trips to Palm Desert, CA., with the whole family, including their granddaughters Isabella and Gianna who ended up being on the golf teams in both Lake Forest High School and Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.

After the children were out of college, community service was a way of life for Mathilda. She was an active figure in Lake Forest for many years and is best known for her leadership work with The Lake Forest Woman’s Club. During her four-year term as President (1991-1995) the membership burgeoned from 195 to 425 members, for which the Club received the General Federation of Women’s Clubs National and International Award. She was the creator, editor and publisher of the GFWC Award-Winning LFWC monthly newsletter and (along with her husband) created and designed its logo. Because the LFWC originated the first Lake Forest Day in 1908, Mathilda, along with her husband Don, created ideas and designed yearly Award Winning and “Best of Parade” floats representing The LFWC in the Lake Forest Day Parades. They also served as Judges for the parade entries when the LFWC didn’t have a float. Most recently in May of 2022 she was she was presented the prestigious ‘Woman Among Us’ award from the Lake Forest Woman’s Club.

In 1963 Mathilda was one of the founders of Woodlands Garden Club of Lake Forest and served as President (1988-89), Woodlands 25th Anniversary. She Chaired the Flower Show “On With The Show,” held in the Drake Theater of Barat College, which won the State Award from the Garden Clubs of Illinois. She loved creating flower arrangements for the club’s annual flower shows and won many Tri Color Awards and other awards for her arrangements.

In 1983 she was elected president of the Lake Forest Symphony Guild at which time she served a two year term. She served on the Board of the Lake Forest Symphony, and enjoyed many years in several capacities on the board of the Lake Forest Symphony Guild. From 2009-2020 she served as the chair of the Guild’s, Fundraiser, Mad Hatter Luncheons held at the Onwentsia Club, creating a catchy theme for each one.

May 6, 1995, The League of Women Voters of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff chose Mathilda to be one of the Honorees, among High Profile Women, for “Women Who Have Made A Difference” and received this award at the “75TH Anniversary of A Woman’s Right to Vote Honorary Award Luncheon.”

Mathilda was a member of the St. Mary’s Guild, serving on the board as Co Chair of the Christmas Prelude “A Holiday Interlude” when it was held at the Morraine Hotel, 1986 fundraiser for The Church of St. Mary; Co-Circle Leader of St. Roberts Circle in 2002; Co Director of the St. Mary’s Bridge Marathon Group for over 25 years. She was an avid bridge player.

She served on the Board of Catholic Charities of Lake County, as the Corresponding Secretary and Newsletter Editor in 2010-2012. She was a member of the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society, Women’s Republican Club of Lake Forest, Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Community Art Associates of the Chicago Art Institute, where she served as an Art Appreciation Educator at a Waukegan Grade School and was co-chair of the Opening Teas.

She enjoyed golf with family and friends. The family, Don, Mathilda, daughter Terri (Howard) Martino, son Christopher, granddaughters, Isabella and Gianna loved taking Golf trips together to Scottsdale AZ., Hawaii and their favorite, Palm Desert, CA. Her zest for life was expressed in her tireless commitment and love for her family, kindness with friends, her fearless spirit and determination. She was a woman of unstoppable measure and quite creative.

She touched the lives of everyone she knew and will be missed by everyone who knew her especially by her loving family who meant everything and the whole world to her, her daughter, Terri Martino (Howard) of Lake Forest, her son Christopher Williams of Miami, Florida., her beloved and most cherished granddaughters, Isabella Rose Martino and Gianna Marie Martino.