Leslie Hodges

Leslie Hodges was the only son of Martha and Robert Hodges in Decatur, Illinois.  Grandma Moore  lived with the family and helped raise Leslie while his mother worked in an insurance adjustment office.  Leslie came by his integrity and regard for others from a solid upbringing at home.  

Leslie Hodges was a quiet man with a kind heart.  He loved to read and was knowledgeable on so very many facts – some useless but many fascinating.  Car reviews were one of his favorite things to read and he could go on at length about the features of one car vs. another.  His master’s degree from Northern Illinois was in computer science and he loved taking the machines apart and forever tinkering with them.  In the contest between man vs. computer, he was determined to be the victor.    

He was self-effacing and did not seek glory for himself, but he was a fierce defender if he thought someone he knew was not getting a fair deal.  He was not bothered by, but rather supported, strong women – including his wife Marlene, his daughter Ann Wallin and his school principal sister-in-law Rita Stasi.  He thought pretty much everything Ann did was great, and he was ever proud of her and Ann’s three children Charlie, Grace and Ava.

After graduating from NIU he started in a computer position at CNA insurance in the red building on Wabash – not far from Lake Michigan.  Friends Karen and Dick Clark had a sailboat at Monroe Street harbor, and he loved joining his coworkers after work on the boat.  He also was a film buff and met his wife Marlene at a film festival at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1985.  

Years later, Les joined the Illinois Housing Development Authority on Michigan Avenue as a computer specialist.  He was proud of the fact that IHDA developed affordable housing that his father was able to use.  He also liked taking the train downtown and feeling the energy of whatever was happening across the loop every day.   

Beyond family and computers, Les enjoyed singing in the church choir and volunteering in the Peoples Resource Center.  He was easy to love and will be missed. 

Leslie Hodges of Hinsdale, passed away on April 29, 2024.  He recently learned that he had metastatic pancreatic cancer.  The last 2 months were especially difficult - first Central DuPage hospital, then rehab, and then back to the hospital.  

A visitation will be held on Friday May 3, 2024 from 9:30am in the Fireplace Room at St. Isaac Jogues Church, 4th and Clay St, Hinsdale, IL 60521 until time of Funeral Mass at 10:30am. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to Orchard Village in Skokie would be appreciated; orchardvillage.org or 7660 Gross Point Rd, Skokie, IL 60077. 

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