Margaret Helen Francesca (Guerin) Leyden

Margaret Helen Francesca Guerin Leyden, known as Margie to family and friends, and Maggie to her husband, Austin, returned home on Thursday, September 24, 2026. She passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by those who loved her.

Born on July 7, 1937, Margaret was the sixth of ten children born to Margaret Helen Welsh Guerin and John Lambert Guerin. It was a home birth in their 2md floor, 3 bedroom apartment at 6208 S. Winchester Ave. in Chicago’s West Englewood neighborhood. As one of a large family, Margaret learned responsibility at an early age. She helped care for her 4 younger siblings and found ways to earn money including a paper route, cleaning homes, and collecting pieces of coal that were thrown to waiting children from the railroad men working the coal cars.

Margaret had a great love of dance and had the luxury of ballet lessons as a child. Unfortunately, due to a severe case of pleurisy her ballet career was cut short. Her love of dance never left her and years later she made sure that all of her children were taught to jitterbug as “Rock Around the Clock” was spinning on the record player while cutting a rug in the living room.

At Harper High School, she distinguished herself as an accomplished athlete. Her swimming skills earned her a lifeguard position, along with archery, horseback riding and being skilled with a shotgun while shooting sporting clay pigeons. Years later it was Margaret who would win all of the stuffed animals and Cupie dolls for her daughter, Sarah Ellen, while her husband, Austin, proudly bragged about his wife’s remarkable aim.

Margaret excelled in all things home economics. She loved sewing, and as a teenager made many of her own clothes. Later in life she would make her children’s Halloween costumes and Irish Step Dancing outfits for her nieces, Patricia and young Nora Leyden. She also had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening, especially growing tomatoes in her victory garden.

During the 1960’s she became quite the expert among her girlfriends for giving the popular “Toni” perms at the kitchen table. Her children also received their haircuts there too, but thankfully for them not at the same time. Margaret was an accomplished cook who learned traditional French-Canadian dishes from her mother who had learned them from Margaret’s French-Canadian Grandmother, O’Brien Welsh. Margaret’s intimate holiday dinners for 20, including a kid’s table, were legendary.

While still in high school Margaret began her first adult job at a brokerage firm in Chicago’s Loop. Her maternal Uncle Pat, and his wife, Aunt Georgia, who also worked at the brokerage firm, recommended Margaret for the position. Margaret graduated from Harper High in 1955. She then enrolled and completed a secretarial course focusing on financial business practices.

On Margaret’s 19th birthday she met the man that would become her husband, Austin Leyden. They met the old-fashioned way, in a a south side Irish bar called Callaghan’s on Marquette Road. Her dear friend and co-worker, Bernadette, was with her that night. As there was a nearly 8-year difference in their ages, Austin was teased that he was “robbing the cradle”. Later Austin confided to Margaret it was her long dark hair cascading down her back that first attracted him. He said she had the “look of a Spaniard” about her; very pale skin and dark hair, this was very exotic to Austin.

Margaret and Austin were married on October 25, 1958, at St. Theodore’s Parish in Chicago. They honeymooned at Starved Rock Lodge in Utica, Illinois. During the week of their wedding, Margaret honored her financial obligation to her mother by turning over her final paycheck as a single woman to her mother. There were still four younger siblings at home. Margaret continued to work during her first year of marriage, which was very unusual for the time. Once she started “showing” she was terminated as was the custom. The upside was pregnancy qualified for unemployment benefits in those days.

In July of 1959, Margaret and Austin welcomed their first son, Austin Anthony Leyden, named in honor of his father and St. Anthony, our family’s patron Saint. In October of 1960, Austin surprised Margaret by purchasing a new home at 2007 W. 68th St., West Englewood. This was a dream come true as Margaret had lived in apartments her whole life and a woman wasn’t legally allowed to have a mortgage on her own. The home was built with the help of family tradesmen, namely Margaret’s brothers-in -law, Frank McGinley and Johnny and Paddy Leyden.

Daughter Sarah Ellen was born in February, 1962. Austin was working that early Sunday morning at Sears Roebuck as an elevator operator. It was Austin’s cousin, “Black Joe” that drove Margaret to the hospital that frigid morning.

In 1964, at Margaret’s insistence, she and Austin welcomed their nephew and Godson, young Connor, into their home. What began as a sacred bond through Roman Catholic faith grew into something even deeper as they took him into their family and raised him as their own son. Young Connor became an integral part of their family, cherished as their son and loved alongside their other children.

Margaret retired in 1997 from DePaul University after 20 years of service; her final position as Assistant to the Chair of the College of Commerce. In 2002 Austin once again found their next and final home in the Timbers in Palos Hills, Illinois.

Margaret served as a Eucharistic Minister while being a member of Our Lady of the Ridge Parish in Chicago Ridge. She was involved with her local P.A.D.S. organization, giving food and shelter to those without. Margaret was also a lay associate of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary the Immaculate in Joliet, Illinois. Margaret was taught by Franciscan Nuns as a child and always had a great affinity for that particular religious order and St. Francis in particular.

Alongside her French-Canadian heritage, Margaret carried the family story of an Indigenous ancestry, believed to be Algonquin and or Cree. Though this history was not always openly acknowledged in earlier generations and often hidden. Margaret was always proud and curious of this heritage. She never missed an opportunity to go to a pow wow, drumming circle, when going on car trips with her husband and children.

Through genealogical research conducted by Margaret’s brother-in-law, Ted Phelan, the Guerin family established a distant relationship to St. Therese of Lisieux, the beloved French Carmelite nun, known as the Little Flower.

Saint Therese is also the patroness of the Catholic missions in Alaska. This connection has a special meaning to Margaret’s family bringing together her French ancestry, her Roman Catholic faith, and the family’s desire to support Indigenous communities and the education of Indigenous children.

Margaret is predeceased by her husband, Austin Leyden, in August 2022; her son, Austin Anthony “Tony” Leyden in February 2023; and her nephew and Godson, Connor James Leyden, in May of 2026. Margaret was also preceded in death by her Godson, Christopher Patrick Leyden, in July of 2024; nephew John Francis McGinley in July 2023; her great-nephew, Joseph William McMurray in September 2018; and nephew, David Thynne in March 2018.

Margaret’s parents and siblings have also predeceased her. Her siblings were Patricia Guerin Knebelsberger, Robert Guerin, James Guerin, Joan Guerin Salmon, Gene Guerin, Franklin Delano Guerin, Eleanor Guerin Phelan, Michael Guerin, and Rita Guerin Zarecki. Margaret was the last living member of her immediate family.

Margaret was also preceded in death by her two beloved cats, brother and sister, Shamrock and Shannon. In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, patron Saint of animals, we take comfort in believing that they are in Heaven where they are loved and cared for until the day Margaret and all those she loved are reunited in Eternity.

Margaret leaves behind her daughter, Sarah Ellen Leyden-Vazquez; son-in-law, Charles Anthony Vazquez; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins in Illinois, Michigan, Florida, the Carolina’s, California, Hawaii, Ireland, and England.

May perpetual light shine upon her and may she rest in eternal peace.

Margaret’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Fedde-Helfrich-Cross Funeral Home, 112 West Main Street, Peotone, Illinois, 60468. The service will be officiated by Deacon Jim Kelly of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Parish in Peotone, IL. Gospel selections will be performed by Jocelyn Winston, a Grammy nominate vocalist.

Memorial visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. with a memorial service from 2:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Interment will immediately follow at Peotone Cemetery.

There will be a celebratory dinner at 4:00 p.m. at one of Margaret’s favorite French restaurants Le Crepe Bistro, 13957 S. Bell Road, Homer Glen, IL, 60491. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to support the education, cultural identity, and future generations of indigenous children. These were two of Margaret’s favorites: St. Labre Indian School. Ashland, Montana, 59004 and Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska-Catholic Missions of Northen Alaska. 1312 Peger Road, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99709