Gretchen A. Polglaze, age 78, a resident of Wheaton, died Sunday, March 11, at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield. She was born September 15, 1928 in Peoria.

Gretchen worked for more than 25 years as a Purchasing Agent for Denson Shops in Wheaton. She loved animals and children and was a member of the Sierra Club, the Humane Society, and the National Wildlife Federation. She was a creative person and enjoyed music and art. She especially loved her grandchildren who knew her as "Gammy".

She is survived by her husband whom she married 59 years ago on Valentine's Day, Horace E.; her three children, Cathy Polglaze of Carol Stream, Luanne (Jordan) Lawrence of Wheaton, and Dwight (Julie) Polglaze of South Hadley, MA; and six grandchildren, Sarah and David Lawrence, and Maggie, Sophia, Dolan, and Jack Polglaze.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Hazel Farmer.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 14, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton, where a funeral service will be held on Thursday at 10:00 A.M. Interment will follow at Wheaton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station, 1275 NE 79th Street Causeway, Miami 33138; or to Father John Mittelstadt OFM, St. Mary Mission, PO Box 39, Tohatchi, NM 87325.