Clementine "Penny" Engelen

Clementine “Penny” Engelen passed away peacefully March 22, 2023 in Naperville, IL.  She was born June 5, 1922 in Chicago to Belgian immigrants, Eugene and Martha (Haeck) Engelen.  She went to Schurz High School in Chicago and worked in the secretary pool at Montgomery Wards before getting her job at Wilson Jones where she stayed for the remainder of her career, becoming the administrative assistant to the vice-president.

Penny was born 2 years after the Spanish Flu ended.  She became a burn victim at the age of 5 after she and her brother were playing with matches on the roof and her dress caught fire.  She stayed in bed for a year with her arm tied to the ceiling which gave her full use of her arm for the rest of her life.  Penny then lived through the depression during most of her school years.  She volunteered at the Service Center in Chicago during WWII.

Penny lived in Chicago with her mother whom she cared for until her death.  She was an avid reader until macular degeneration limited her eyesight.  After retirement she and her dear friend, Lorraine, whom she met in the Belgian Club in Chicago both found Carillon and chose townhouses across from each other.  She loved going on the community’s many outings, game time at the clubhouse, bowling with her church, and golfing.  Penny also enjoyed her many friends, dining out, and going to the movies.  Her life and health slowed down drastically during COVID and she had to give up her interests as she was no longer able to drive and was secluded in her home, where she lived until her death.

She also loved spending time with extended family.  She served her church, New Community Church, as a greeter as she had such an outgoing personality.  This is where she accepted Christ as her savior and was baptized.

Penny was preceded in death by her parents; infant brother, Albert, who died of scarlet fever; brother, Eugene; sister in law, Lorraine; and nephews in law, Robert Ford and Eric Looye.  She is survived by her niece and nephew, Diane Ford, Janet (Jeff) Engelen, Mark and Laura Engelen, and Karen Looye; great nieces and nephews, Brian (Lori), Bradley (Lynn), Michael (Angela) Ford; Melissa (Jon) Monge, Scott (Lexi) Looye, Kelly (Andrew) Jacobson, and Kevin Looye; and great-great nieces and nephews, Caleb, Kennedy, and Kathryn Monge; and Camryn, Elliot, Logan, Nolan, Huck, and Theo Ford.

Burial is private.  A Celebration of Life service will be planned at a later date.