Alsip Honors Late Crossing Guard 'With The Poise And Grace Of A Queen'
ALSIP, Ill (CBS) -- The Village of Alsip has honored a longtime employee who passed away last year, after touching the lives of two generations of students.
WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports Alsip Police Chief Christopher Radz couldn't say enough about the late Evelyn Fertwagner.
"She was a crossing guard but I would say she carried herself with the poise and grace of a queen," he said.
For more than 46 years Evelyn was outside Stony Creek School, at the corner of 117th and Kolin, now called "Evelyn's Corner."
Podcast
Thursday morning, a little garden and park bench were dedicated in her honor.
She was the longest-serving Alsip employee when she died last year at the age of 86.
"When I attended the elementary school, she crossed me. And then when my children went to the elementary school, she crossed them," Radz said. "Then, unfortunately, she passed. I'm getting choked up."
The chief said Evelyn had the most important job in the community and taught people about respect, responsibility and kindness.
Radz said Evelyn was "a lighthouse in the middle of a storm, she lived a perfect exemplary life on how you should carry yourself."
The chief added, "she was a small little thing but like I said she was huge. She was a huge presence, but she was also a huge example to live by for all of us. For all of us."
