Former Orland Park Mayor's Wife Dies

Sally Owens, age 76, wife of the late former Orland Park Mayor Frederick T. Owens, died after a lengthy illness September 18, 2015 at her Orland Park home surrounded by her family.

The former Sally Fenton was born March 1, 1939 in Chicago and was the fifth daughter of the late Eleanor and William Fenton. She was preceded in death by her husband, the late Orland Park Mayor Frederick T. Owens who died in 1992. The Owens family moved to Orland Park in 1972.

A graduate of Chicago’s St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, Owens is an alumna of Academy of Our Lady Chicago and Visitation Grammar School. She worked as a registered nurse for more than 30 years including 15 years as the school nurse at St. Michael School in Orland Park. She served as a customer service representative in the Cook County Assessor’s Office from 1992 until she retired in 2010.

“My mom is remembered for the many years she spent as the school nurse as St. Mike’s and for running my dad’s political campaigns,” said Margie Owens- Klotz. “She was incredibly organized and could run a campaign like the best of them.”

Owens was preceded in death her sisters, Mary June (Stanley) Zaug, Marjorie (Jack) Flanagan and Dorothy (Stanley) Tomaka, her mother and father-in-law, Florence and Hugh Owens, and her brothers-in-law, John (Patricia) and Hubert (the late Phyllis).

“A lot of St. Michael alumni live in the area and remember when my mom was the school nurse there,” said Maura Kownacki, also a St. Michael grad. “It’s been nice to hear from so many people who have such fond memories of her.”

Owens is survived by her daughters, Mary Beth (Dean) Casper, Marjorie (Gerald) Owens-Klotz and Maura (Robert) Kownacki, eight grandchildren, Christopher (Jacqueline), Stephanie, Sean, Richard, Kevin, Kathleen, Timothy and Clare and one great grandchild, Autumn Bridget. She is also survived by her sister, Virginia (the late Donald) Gentile, her sister-in-law Sr. Mary Louise Owens, O.P. and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Sunday, September 20, 2015 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Lawn Funeral Home, 7732 West 159thStreet. Prayers will be offered at 9:15 a.m. at the funeral home before the 10 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of the Woods Church in Orland Park. Owens will be buried next to her husband at the historic St. Michael Cemetery at 159th Street and Will-Cook Road. Details at www.lawnfh.com.