American Legion Auxiliary honors an 85-year member

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 281 of Waukegan has a special lady who has been a member for 85 years.

Shirley Figeas joined the Waukegan Auxiliary in 1938 as a junior member and has continued with the organization ever since.

Figeas' father served in the military in both World War I and II. After he retired from the Navy, her parents lived in Waukegan. Figeas graduated from Waukegan High School in 1945 and then attended DePaul University, where she earned her teaching degree and met her future husband.

She taught in Indiana before returning with her family to teach at Washington Elementary and North Elementary Schools in Waukegan. She recalled enjoyable Saturday evenings walking down Genesee Street, shopping at the dime store, going to the Genesee Theater, and eating pretzels at the movies.

Figeas remembers standing on Genesee Street in downtown Waukegan in 1945 when word came that World War II had ended.

She has voted in every election since she was able to vote. While with the American Legion Auxiliary, she volunteered with distributing poppies (to assist military veterans), as well as attending Veterans Day celebrations, etc.

In addition to the Auxiliary, Shirley Figeas had volunteered at the TB Sanitarium, at church and at school. She now is active as president of the Residential Council at Rolling Hills Place in Zion.

For more information on the American Legion Auxiliary and its activities, contact Mary Klinefelter at (708) 288-5854.

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