A Life Worth Remembering: Patricia M. Eden

Patricia M. Eden was instrumental in transforming the into a spacious, two-story building.

“She kept the ball rolling for the new library,” said Administrative Librarian Elaine Savage.

Savage said Mrs. Eden was a tireless advocate for the library and was a founder of the Friends of the Library before she was named to the library board in 1995.

“One of her pet projects with the Friends of the Library was collecting labels from Campbell’s soup cans,” said Savage. “She was quite the seamstress and made a Campbell’s soup can costume out of fabric. Then she would march down the street during the Fourth of July parade in her costume supporting the library as she always did and showing off her sewing.”

“She was very hands on with the new library,” said Savage. “She helped the local landscaper pick out the trees that we planted at the new library. She also would share her own plants with the library.”

Mrs. Eden died suddenly Nov. 28 of a stroke at . She was 75.

“Mom was dedicated to the library, but her passion was voting,” said her son, Mark. “She really believed in getting people registered to vote and that they should make educated choices.”

That’s what led her to join the League of Women Voters, he said.

Mrs. Eden was also well known for her walks through Palos Heights, where she settled with her family in 1974.

“Mom and (former mayor) Bonnie Strack were infamous for their walks and their arguments,” her son said with a laugh.

“Her walks gave her a good pulse of Palos Heights,” said Savage. “She and Bonnie would conduct inspections during their walks. And she’d let you know if she found something.”

“She had a stroke a few years ago,” said Savage. “She had to quit the library board. That’s when we started to miss her.”

Mrs. Eden also had a love for gardening and was a member of the Joliet Weaver’s Guild.

Survivors include two sons, Michael and Mark; four grandchildren; a brother, Robert; and a sister, Karen.

Services have been held through . Memorials should be directed to the Illinois League of Women Voters or the Palos Heights Public Library.