One hundred years of an exceptional life. Edna is remembered fondly by everyone who knew her.

“Little Edna” was born in Union City, New Jersey to Alfred Duna and Edna Duna nee Zanone (“Big Edna”) and died near her Evanston home two weeks after her amazing hundredth birthday celebration, which was attended by family from around the country. Her death was peaceful and she passed in her sleep.

Edna attended the Massachusetts State College, and the Modern School of Fashion and Design in Boston, and had an enduring sense of style.

Edna married Algis Budrys (Ajay) in 1954 in St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in New York City. They remained together until his death in 2008.

She gave life to, and raised, four spirited children, Jeffrey Budrys, Steven Budrys, Timothy Budrys, and David Budrys.

In 1962 Edna brought her children from New Jersey to Evanston, Illinois where Ajay had acquired a house and employment with a public relations firm. She lived in that house, which she loved, for the rest of her life.

Edna enjoyed working as an Executive Assistant for Benefit Trust Life Insurance, later renamed Trustmark, until she was more than eighty five years old.

In 1971, when her youngest was nine years old, Edna announced that she was going back to work full time, and then she and Ajay gave her children lessons on how to do their own laundry.

When Edna retired she immediately joined a health club, made new friends, and started doing Zumba. She also would chauffeur her group of friends to theater performances and get togethers until she could no longer drive.

Edna was unstoppable. Setbacks that would have devastated most people just rolled off her back. She looked on the sunny side, and loved to sing right up to the end of her life.

For Edna, if you were a good person nothing else mattered to her. She welcomed progressive social changes throughout her long life.

Her hundredth birthday was, in a way, a celebration of her life. Well wishes and birthday greetings rolled in from loving friends and family far and wide.

There will be a memorial event and an burial of her ashes at Maryhill Cemetery next to Ajay and her mom, Big Edna, AKA Nana. A date for that has not been set.

Surviving family includes:

Sons Jeffrey Budrys (Kathleen Heiman); Steven Budrys; Timothy Budrys (Mary Helgeson); and David Budrys. Grandchildren Tamera, Cheyenne, Willow, Zia, Nicole and Dexter. Great grandchildren Alexandra, Hayley, Riley, Chance, and Collins. step-brother Mark Skinner (Judy Stone); and Cousins Victoria Matranga, Dennis Zanone, and Judy Zanone.