Louise McPharlin Obituary

McPharlin, Louisa Michael

Our wonderful mother and grandmother, Louisa Michael McPharlin, passed away on February 27, 2025. A native Chicagoan, she began working at WTTW, the PBS television station, when she was 15 and still at Hyde Park High School. After time at Northwestern University, she decided that television was where she wanted to be. She met Jim McPharlin at WTTW and they married in 1965. They were the ultimate bohemian couple, holding parties in their apartments in Old Town and later Lincoln Park with their menagerie of dogs and cats. Their favorite retreat was Beverly Shores, Indiana, along the southern shores of Lake Michigan, where they enjoyed a little cottage in the woods and later a year round family home. With their children Molly and Michael arriving in 1970 and 1973, Louisa became an enthusiastic stay at home mom, involved in their schools Oscar Mayer and Francis Parker. After Molly and Michael left for college, she went back to work and successfully bought and sold iconic homes and historic real estate throughout the city for over 25 years, making friends wherever she went. Once her four grandchildren arrived - Max, Maggie, Lev, and Will - she dedicated herself to spending time with them, being the ultimate, indulgent grandmother. Louisa also enjoyed the theatre scene in the city with a large group of friends, holding season tickets to numerous theatres, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera. Louisa was an independent, creative person. She lived a full and joyful life. There will never be anyone who can replace her and she will be missed and loved always, beyond measure. A memorial will be held for her this summer, dates to be announced.

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