Elgin businesswoman, philanthropist loved life

Stella Ward believed in giving back.

For much of her adult life, the Elgin woman was a philanthropist, donating thousands of dollars to St. Thomas More Catholic Church and to Provena St. Joseph Hospital.

In fact, she and her late husband, Malcolm, donated $500 to help the hospital carve out a new building on the city's west side, said Nan Limberis, the hospital's foundation development co-executive.

And after donating $5,000 toward a room in the hospital's comprehensive rehabilitation unit, she publicly challenged others to do the same, Limberis said.

"She was a great lady, very spunky," she said.

Mrs. Ward died Saturday at the hospital she helped create. She was 92.

In addition to her charity work, Mrs. Ward taught home economics at Abbott Middle School for more than 30 years.

She also helped her husband run Ward's West Side Launderette, one of the area's first coin-operated laundries, said her nephew Pat Carey, who recalls folding football uniforms there for Elgin High School.

The couple never had any children of their own, so Mrs. Ward doted on her nieces and nephews, making sure to attend their graduations and special events, Carey said.

"We were kind of her kids," he said.

In Elgin, Mrs. Ward served on multiple community groups, including the Lady Elks, the St. Thomas More Widowers Group and was a founding member of the Franciscan Heritage Society Committee, in which members donate a portion of their estates to the hospital.

In her downtime, she loved fishing, playing bridge in several leagues, playing the slots and poker at the Grand Victoria Casino and traveling the world.

South America, Australia, Europe and Asia were some of the places Mrs. Ward visited, said her niece Martha Carey.

In her later years, Mrs. Ward was an avid reader of Martha Stewart's magazine, followed the stock market and was a huge fan of Chicago sports.

"She loved the Bears and she was just crushed when they didn't do well," said Mary Thompson, one of Mrs. Ward's nieces.

Mrs. Ward had a good sense of humor and loved telling jokes.

She also had routines. Each day, 2 p.m. was designated as her personal happy hour.

She typically drank a Manhattan -- two shots of bourbon, a bit of sweet vermouth and an ice cube, her nephew said.

"She was a good lady," he said. "She certainly enjoyed life and had a full life."

Services have been held.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Sister June Endowment Fund at Provena St. Joseph Hospital, 77 N. Airlite St., Elgin.