Arliss Ann Chase, age 80, passed away on December 31, 2014 in Rockford, Illinois. She was born on April 5, 1934 in Wheaton, Illinois and lived there from her birth until 1958, when she moved to Winfield, Illinois. She lived there until 2010, when she moved to Rochelle, Illinois and then Rockford.

Arliss is survived by her six sons, Paul (Jan) Chase of Rockford, Mark (Tina) Chase of Bakersfield, California, Jeffrey (Shelley) Chase of Seattle, Washington, Clifford Steven Chase of Aurora, Illinois, David Chase of Winfield, and Douglas (Jan) Chase of Aurora. She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren as well as her brother Alden (Joan) Nickerson of Freeport, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Irene Nickerson, and three brothers, Donald, Herbert and Ralph.

Arliss spent most of her life in the Wheaton and Winfield area. She attended Wheaton schools and graduated from Wheaton High School in 1952. The following year she married Clifford Chase and together they started their family. In 1955, Arliss and her son accompanied her husband to Germany, where he was stationed in the Army. Upon their return to the states, the family, now with two sons, resumed their lives in Wheaton. In 1958, they moved to Winfield where Arliss lived until 2010.

During her time in Winfield, the family grew to six sons. Arliss also became an active member of the community. She was a long time member of the DuPage Art League. She spent time as an associate editor of the Winfield Glimpses, the village newspaper. She served a term on the Winfield Village Board as Village Clerk. Arliss was a long-time member of the Winfield United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir and later served as newsletter editor. While her children were in school, she was an active member of the local PTA. She was also a Cub Scout den mother.

Arliss worked outside the home off and on her entire adult life. She was mostly employed as a secretary and retired from her position as Assistant Office Manager at the DuPage County Health Department in 1998.

Arliss loved writing and produced many short stories, children's books, essays, poetry and just about anything else that involved putting pen to paper. She faithfully made daily entries in her journal for over fifty years. As a measure of her faith, she transcribed the Holy Bible so she could better understand its meaning. As an art lover and artist herself she leaves behind many paintings and sketches. She has imparted these talents to her grandchildren who cite her as an inspiration for their own creativity. Arliss was a skilled seamstress and created many unique pieces for her children and grandchildren. These included lovely quilts, doll outfits, Christmas ornaments, and stuffed animals.

Arliss was well known for her humor, generosity and compassion toward family, friends and strangers alike. She lives on through the talents and gifts that she gave to others. She will be sorely missed and fondly remembered.

A visitation will be held on Friday, January 9, 2015 from 4-8 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton, IL 60187. Burial will be at the family plot at Wheaton Cemetery immediately after.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Alzheimer's Association , 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633.