Vera Bergren passed away on March 31, 2026, at the age of 98. She was a longtime educator who approached her work and her life with discipline, independence, and a strong commitment to learning.

Vera was born on February 18, 1928, at the family farmhouse near St. Augustine, Illinois, to Charles and Edna (Perry) Hughbanks. She grew up in London Mills, both in town and on family farms. She graduated from London Mills High School in 1945 and enrolled at Western Illinois State Teachers College in Macomb. At 18, she taught at the one-room Dutch Row School near Biggsville, Illinois,

On May 18, 1947, she married Louis E. Bergren of Biggsville. The couple farmed in Biggsville, Belvidere, and Hinckley, Illinois. In 1961, the family moved to DeKalb, Illinois, where both Vera and Lou juggled university classes, jobs, operating a student house, and parenting five growing boys. Vera earned her master’s degree in 1965 and taught at Kaneland Junior High School before joining the DeKalb school system in 1969. There, she was a reading specialist and resource diagnostic special education teacher until her retirement in 1993.

She was an active member of First Lutheran Church, where she served on the Altar Guild. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Daughters of the American Revolution, and was active in Toastmasters International for more than 20 years, including serving as a District Governor.

After retirement, Vera and Lou traveled extensively, visiting Great Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, and Russia, and destinations across the United States. Vera lived at Monarch Landing in Naperville from 2008 to 2022, when she moved to Westbridge in Wheaton.

Vera took great joy in her five sons, seven grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her sons Charles (Martha), Bruce, Mark (Sue); daughter-in-law Teresa; grandchildren Peter (Michelle), Katherine (David), Philip (Morgan), Margaret (Erin), Daniel (Gianina), Stephanie (Jack), and Jordan (Sarah); and great-grandchildren Conor, Andrew, Edward, Claire, Roan, Miriam, Astrid, Winifred, Lily, Mira, and Truman.

Vera was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Edna Hughbanks; her husband, Louis E. Bergren; her sister, Dorothy, who died in infancy; and her sons, Kent and Craig.

In lieu of flowers, Vera requested donations to Feed My Starving Children.