Margaret L. Kartheiser

True to her Irish roots until the last, Margaret “Maggie” L. O’Bryan Kartheiser passed away peacefully after a brief illness on March 17, 2024. She had just turned 88 years old in February.

Maggie leaves behind her four children: Louise Cody Seyge (Douglas), Thomas (Suzette) Cody, Martin Cody (Denise), Colin Cody (Cherrie), her stepchildren: stepdaughter Susan (Sue) Kartheiser, stepsons Joseph Kartheiser, Robert Kartheiser, Jr.,stepdaughter Mary Kartheiser, her four grandchildren: Marguerite Gutierrez, Sebastian Gutierrez, Jonathan (Jack) Cody and Ingrid Cody and step granddaughter Madeleine (Maddie) Ryan. She will also be remembered by many loving nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Maggie grew up in Sauganash (Chicago) Illinois with her four older sisters who all predeceased her: Patricia Holmes, Elizabeth (Betty) Heffernan, Catherine (Kate) Forrestal and Ada (Coleman). She met her late husband Robert Kartheiser during her teenage years and they became high school sweethearts. Her love of horses grew during her childhood when weekends and summers were spent in Lake Villa where her father, Stephen J. O’Bryan had purchased a 360 acre working farm. Falling in love with the beauty of the outdoors, Maggie decided to go west to college and attended Loretto Heights in Denver, Colorado where she studied sociology and dramatic arts and was the first person in her family to receive a Bachelor’s degree. She found and purchased a beautiful bay horse, Galahad, in Colorado who came back with her to Illinois and went to live at “The Farm” where Maggie continued to ride him for many years. She began working at All State Insurance company as a secretary and there she met and eventually married James F. Cody on July 11, 1959. After Louise and Tom were born, the family relocated to Glenview where Maggie had two more children: Martin and Colin. Maggie was involved in charity and school activities through the Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish. After Maggie and Jim’s divorce in 1973, Maggie reunited with her high school sweetheart Robert (Bob) Kartheiser. They later married and moved to Deerfield where they attended many Deerfield football games and other school activities for their 8 children (4 and 4 respectively). They continued to spend time at ‘The Farm’ and eventually built and moved to their dream house in 1986.

Maggie, a lifelong gardener, began to beautify their property with many flowers (and a vegetable garden). Her favorites were roses, daffodils, day lilies as well as many others. She was active in the Chicago Botanical Gardens, Day Lily groups and other gardening and flower loving organizations as a member and sometimes teacher. She prided herself on growing her vegetables “organically” long before it became popular and was a firm believer in letting Mother Nature do her magic without chemicals. After selling ‘The Farm’ in 2018, Maggie went to live at Hawthorne Lakes and then Brookdale, both located in Vernon Hills. She continued to be popular with staff and residents alike but was happiest when her children and grandchildren were around her. Her appreciation of flowers never ceased nor did her love of football (college, pro and yes even The Bears). Maggie will always be remembered as a chocolate fanatic and daily consumer of Pepsi.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Integrated Palliative and Hospice Center in Libertyville, Illinois in Maggie’s honor.
Please click on the following link to donate: INTEGRATED PALLIATIVE AND HOSPICE

Funeral Arrangements & Services Provided By:

Linden Funerals & Cremation

120 Peterson Road

Libertyville, IL 60048

Tel. 224-331-6330

www.LindenFunerals.com