Anna Irlweg

Anna Irlweg, age 98, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born in Nakovo, Yugoslavia, on June 23, 1928, Anna lived a long and remarkable life shaped by family, resilience, and the many changes she witnessed throughout nearly a century.

Following World War II, Anna made a new life in Chicago, where she raised her three boys in the DePaul area. She later made her home in Des Plaines, Illinois, where she lived for many years and became part of the community. Anna was also a longtime member of the Danube Swabians of Chicago (Chicago Donauschwaben), where she maintained a meaningful connection to her heritage, traditions, and community.

Anna enjoyed working with her hands and creating beautiful things. She loved gardening and was especially talented at knitting, crocheting, and sewing, creating countless handmade pieces over the years for her home and the people she loved. She took great pleasure in these simple things and in the life and home she created for her family.

Anna was a beloved grandmother to Nicole Smith, Sarah Brady, and Chris Irlweg, and a cherished great-grandmother to Collin Brady, Caysie Brady, Lena Mountain, Ava Pettibone, Julia Pettibone, Jason Pettibone, and Lilly Pettibone.

Anna was preceded in death by her husband, John Irlweg, and her three sons, John Irlweg Jr., Erwin “Ebby” Irlweg, and Roland Irlweg.   Anna endured the profound loss of each of her three boys and continued on with remarkable strength. Her family finds comfort in imagining her reunited with John and her boys once again.

Anna truly lived a full life. After 98 years, it is difficult to capture that life in just a few paragraphs. Her family will remember the little things , the conversations, the smiles, the stories, the things she made with her own hands, and simply having Grandma there.

Her life connected generations, from her beginnings in Yugoslavia to the family she raised in Chicago and the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who came after. Her family is grateful for the many years they were fortunate enough to have her, and her memory will live on through the generations she leaves behind.