Longtime Bartlett Trustee Arends dies at age 69
T.L. Arends, a longtime Bartlett village trustee, community leader and career banker, died Tuesday at the age 69 after a long-fought battle with illness.
Arends served on the village board since 1991, after previously spending a decade on the Bartlett Park District Board of Commissioners.
She also served as the Bartlett Chamber of Commerce president and was a member of the Bartlett Economic Development Commission.
She was the first female member of the Bartlett Lions Club.
Bartlett Village President Kevin Wallace said it would be hard to find someone who served any community as long as Arends did Bartlett.
"She's the epitome of selfless public servant," Wallace said. "She had an unbelievable love of her community. It's a huge vacuum to fill for public service in Bartlett."
Only two months ago, Arends lost her brother, Stuart Stone, to a prolonged illness, Wallace said. Stone was another longtime public servant as the retired Glen Ellyn fire chief.
Arends always said her father raised his children with the belief that public service was expected, Wallace said.
Stone became a firefighter in Glen Ellyn in 1963, served as chief from 1978 to 2001, and remained active with the fire company long after he stepped down from that official position.
Arends was very patriotic and extremely active with such civic organizations as the Bartlett Rotary Club and the chamber, Wallace said.
Not only was her own participation strong, but she was personally responsible for the recruitment of many of the organizations' other members. Wallace counted himself among that number.
The village government also honored Arends' memory Thursday.
"She was always there for the Village of Bartlett, helping wherever we needed her, without taking credit for or seeking the spotlight," a statement on the village website read.
Last fall, the village honored Arends with a plaque in the Town Center, recognizing her achievements and dedication to service.
Arends is survived by her husband, Thomas; children, Scott (Kirstin) Sumner and Kristina (Bill) Gabrenya; five grandchildren; and two sisters.
Visitation is 3 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, at the Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory, 950 S. Bartlett Road. The funeral is 10 a.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Bartlett Cemetery.