Annette Hamilton 1925-2009

Hamilton, Annette
In the month of August 25, 1925 a beautiful baby in Scotland was born in the Hamilton family. Early in the thirties Annette, her younger brother Gavin and parents moved to Liverpool, England where they lived until moving to the Oak Park, IL in 1947. Annette's father was a traveling preacher and while speaking in the USA in the late thirties, WW2 broke out and was detained in the States for five years. During this time Mrs. Hamilton kept the home through the bombings by hiding the two kids under tables and in bomb shelters. These were very stressful times for her mom which caused her a lasting nerves condition. Annette began her undergraduate work at the University of Liverpool where she majored in piano and math. While working as a financial officer for a Chicago Corporation, she obtained a master's degree in math and education from Northwestern University and also studied pipe organ at Moody Bible Institute. After her father died in 1969, Annette left the business world to teach and council at Proviso West High School until 1990 when she took early retirement to spend time traveling with her ailing mom until her passing in 1995. Being a gifted musician Annette she played for early Billy Graham Crusades, Christian Business Men's noon broadcasts, Pacific Garden Mission, many Chicago Churches and for over sixty years faithfully played for the many services at her church - Woodside Bible Chapel, Maywood. After the Woodside fire in June of 2002, during the two year restoration period, Annette's generosity opened her Oak Park condo for Bible Study where over 20 people met every Wednesday night. Growing up with her younger brother Gavin, Jr., they rode their bikes together, played tennis and had many picnics at the Liverpool shore. She played golf, had large stamp collection and before her cancer loved to swim at the Park District's Ridgeland Common pool. Gavin Jr., Annette's brother, gave her two nephews – Gavin III of Indianapolis, IN and Robert of Antioch, IL. In addition to nephews and their children, she has cousins in England and many friends in the Chicago area and her Woodside Chapel family. Until recently, when confined to her condo from cancer, Annette enjoyed the privilege of practicing once a week at the First United Church of Oak Park where she played her favorite music on the Church's beautiful pipe organ. In lieu of flowers, please send remembrance to: Emmaus Bible College, 2570 Asbury Rd., Dubuque, IA 52001. Funeral service: Woodside Bible Chapel, 621 No. 1st Ave, Maywood, IL at 7:00 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25. Burial: Forest Home Cemetery (Please meet at Gate), 863 S. DesPlaines Ave., Forest Park, IL on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 10 a.m.