Elizabeth M. "Beth" Girard

Elizabeth M. Girard, known to her family and friends as “Beth”, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2026, at her home at The Legacy at St. Joseph’s in Kenosha, WI. She was 93 years old.

Beth was born on April12, 1933 to loving parents, Carl (Charles) S. and Germain M. (nee Siedler) Unterfenger. She was raised on the north side of Chicago and graduated from Amundsen High School class of 1951. She was a junior secretary to M.L. Kresge of the S.S. Kresge Company and went on to become a legal assistant for a prominent Chicago law firm.

In May of 1956, Beth wed the love of her life, Leland K. Girard (“Lee”) whom she dated in high school and was married to for 59 years. She was the proud and caring mother to her three children, Glenn, Leslie-Anne and Alison. She was a Cub Scout den mother, cheerleading coach, and volunteer at St. Emily Elementary and Shadrach Bond schools while residing in Des Plaines, IL. In 1980, Beth went to work as an executive secretary at Bolin Enterprises, Inc. and then A.J. Gerrard Strapping where she made many dear friends. She then returned to the legal profession as a legal assistant at a Schaumburg law firm. After living in Des Plaines for 30 years, she and Lee relocated to Geneva, IL and eventually moved to Mt. Pleasant, WI in 2004.

Beth was an avid reader, loved music, was a movie “buff”, enjoyed family vacations and traveled to far off places like France, Austria, Holland, Switzerland, Scotland, England, Spain, Portugal and Nova Scotia as well as cruising to the Caribbean and Bermuda. Her favorite pastime however, was spending time with her grandsons and great-grandchildren who brought great pride and joy to her life. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Beth was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, (Susan Bruno) and brother-in-law (Thomas Bruno), several nephews, nieces, cousins and close friends. She is survived by her son, Glenn C. Girard of Indiana; daughter, Leslie-Anne (Richard) Doyle of Elgin, IL; daughter, Alison E. (Michael) Donovan of Racine, WI; 4 grandsons, Kevin L. (Evelyn) Girard, Justin P. (Corinne) Doyle, Quinn M. and Sawyer G. Donovan; 2 great granddaughters, Genevieve (“Gigi”) and Vivienne Girard and a great-grandson, Kane Doyle.

Visitation Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 10 AM. Funeral following at 11 AM in the chapel at The Legacy at St. Joseph’s 9244 29th Ave., Kenosha, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Beth’s name may be made to either The Legacy at St. Joseph’s, Kenosha, WI or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital @ stjude.org.