Augustana Lutheran Church of Hyde Park

Funeral Services will be held at Augustana for Polly Fehlman on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 1:00pm. Interment will take place immediately following the service in the Memorial Garden.

Polly was born and raised in Geneseo, Illinois. She graduated from Augustana College, an Augustana Synod Lutheran college in Rock Island, Illinois, and received her master’s degree in library science from the University of Missouri and Stephens College. She continued to keep in close contact throughout her life with Augustana College, where she served as the director of admissions for many years. She was the first woman to hold that post.

Coming to Chicago in 1972, Polly worked as an administrator and counselor for the George M. Pullman Foundation, providing scholarships and guidance to women and people of color seeking a university education.

Polly moved to Vista Homes in Hyde Park in 1978 where she became an active gardener. She became close friends with another Vista Homes resident, Knox Hill. They traveled together in Europe, and spent a lot of time at his family vacation home on the Michigan shore of Lake Michigan. Knox became a member of Augustana and worshiped here regularly. Between them, they had two cats, Tom and Valerie, that Polly came to love. Knox died in February of 2004.

Polly served on the Worship and Music Committee, and as the sacristan and archivist at Augustana for many years. Her exacting eye, thoughtful opinion and behind the scenes work, enriched our communal life and worship. She loved to hear live classical music, and liked to be in the midst of sung hymns in worship.