Margaret M. Bork Obituary
Margaret M. "Peggy" Bork, née Effertz of Lemont, formerly of Oakbrook Terrace and North Riverside, Illinois, passed away peacefully at age 97 on October 6, 2025 in her sleep with family at her side.
Daughter of the late Edward P. and Loretta (née Collins) Effertz of Winona, Minnesota; loving wife of the late Jerome A. "Jerry" Bork; sister-in-law of the late Robert "Bobby" Francis Borkovec, and Kenneth (late Sharon) Borkovec, M.D.; cherished mother of Steven (Elizabeth) Bork, Mary Beth (former spouse the late Les) Pottratz, Colleen (Elton) White, Robert (Christine), and Michael (Jacqueline) Bork; dear grandmother of Lori (Quint) Newcomer, Julie (Greg) Miller, Lisa (Drew) Leslie, Teri (James) Paradowski, Michelle (David) Narbutas, Kimberly (James) Grover, Sara (Adam) Taglauer, and William Pottratz; dear great-grandmother of 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Peggy grew up in Winona, Minnesota under the loving eyes of her parents, Ed and Lo, and recalled many Effertz family reunions in Norwood. She attended Cotter High School and earned her bachelor's degree in social work at the College of Saint Teresa in Winona. Peggy often volunteered and was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution. She loved singing, dancing, and acting in musicals. Jerry received his bachelor's degree from St. Mary's College in Winona, and he also loved to dance. When they first met in Winona, Peg knew she found the love of her life. "Peg n Jer" were soon cutting a rug at the school dances. Peggy's best friends, "The Kitties" were her bridesmaids at their wedding at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Winona. The couple moved to Illinois where Jerry opened his travel agency in Berwyn.
Although she was afraid to fly, Peggy still loved travelling the world with her Jerry. He would hold her white-knuckled fist on each flight. "Peg n Jer" were soon cutting a rug around the world. Peggy also served as a Junior Girl Scout Leader, baked cakes for Turkey Shoots and enjoyed many bingo nights at her parish, Mater Christi. Peggy loved to count fireflies with her kids and swing under the birch tree in her backyard, wearing her fancy flip-flops. The neighborhood would come over to get Kool-Aid and cookies and sometimes a hug and a Band-Aid.
Everyone knew Peggy as the "Kissin' Grandma" because she elicited hugs and kisses from all the children she met. Peggy enjoyed family vacations on a houseboat in Minnesota, an RV in Kentucky heat, cruises, cabins in Wisconsin with sandy beaches on the river, hiking in the woods, and swinging at parks, in her backyard and on her patio. And as an empty nester, Peggy loved babysitting for the new generation of kids on 22nd Place in North Riverside. Peggy was active in the Rotary Anns of Berwyn, the Mater Christi Guild in North Riverside, and was a Red Hat Lady. She enjoyed meeting up with others at the Friday Night Fish Fry at the VFW Hall in North Riverside, hosting a foreign exchange student from New Zealand, and reading to children at the North Riverside Library and later at Loyola Medical. Peggy was widely known for being happy all the time, and for her friendly smile. She would constantly make puns. Peggy spent the final chapter of her life at Franciscan Village. And even while struggling with Alzheimer's disease, she would sing songs that many hadn't heard since childhood.
Memorial Visitation Saturday November 22nd 10:00 am until time of Funeral Mass 11:00 am at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 5005 Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL. Interment Private.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Alzheimer's Association (https://donorservices.alz.org) are preferred.
Arrangements made by Sullivan Funeral Home, 630-323-0275 or http://www.sullivanfuneralhomehinsdale.com.
