DBE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD

Jane Stone

 For Jane, DBE is about two things above all: sisterhood and service. She loves the friendships she has made with her fellow DBE members and the opportunity to make a difference together. 

Jane has been a member of DBE for ten years and is a member of Barrington Court Chapter. She currently serves as Illinois State President.

A liberal arts major who found her way into a career in technology, Jane worked in the United Kingdom for 20 years before accepting a position that brought her back to the United States. She currently works for AbbVie as a Senior Consultant Business Systems supporting the ServiceNow application.

Jane has previously served as Illinois State 1st Vice President, Regent of Barrington Court, and Treasurer of Barrington Court.

Outside of DBE, Jane enjoys sewing from vintage patterns, fashion sewing, Mid-Century Modern design, gardening, and thrifting and antiquing.

Jane is a first-generation American; both of her parents were British and emigrated to the United States in the 1950s. She returned to England as a postgraduate student and later married a Brit.

Sheila Schulthesz

Sheila values DBE for its sisterhood, charitable work, and the opportunity to learn new skills through service.

Sheila was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and completed her nursing training there, becoming a Registered Nurse and certified midwife. She moved to Los Angeles in 1981 to work at UCLA Medical Center, where she met her husband, a Chicago native. They have been married for 35 years and have two daughters. After moving to the Chicago area in 1994, Sheila and her husband lived in Glen Ellyn for nearly 30 years before making their lake house their permanent home in 2021. Now retired from nursing, Sheila enjoys history—both British and American—boating on the Chain O’ Lakes, and spending time with her four “grand dogs.”

A DBE member for three years, Sheila is the Barrington Court Chapter Regent, and has served on the Nominating Committee, helped organize two Annual National Conventions, and participated in committees for the British Home/Cantata centennial celebrations, British Car Show, and Midwest Organizer’s Meeting. Her British heritage and lifelong connections to family and friends in England are an important part of her connection to DBE.

Hannah Rucinski

 Since joining DBE, Hannah has made an effort to participate in as many chapter and state events as possible. One of her favorite experiences has been attending the British Car Show at Harper College. 

Hannah has been a member of DBE since June 2024 and belongs to Lancashire Rose Chapter, where she serves as Recording Secretary.

Although Hannah was not born in Great Britain or the Commonwealth, she has English and Scottish ancestry on her mother’s side. Growing up in northeast Ohio, she had little connection to that heritage, but as an adult she has enjoyed reclaiming and exploring that part of her family history through DBE.

Professionally, Hannah is a Senior Archaeological Collections Manager at the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, where she manages archaeological material collections recovered through IDOT compliance 

work from 1959 to the present.

Outside of work and DBE, Hannah enjoys taking walks around her neighborhood, playing video games, and counted cross-stitch.

Carolyn LeBlatt Blanc

Carolyn has been a member of DBE for 26 years and is a member of Dorothy Vernon Chapter. She currently serves as 3rd Vice President.

Carolyn has a professional background in IT and enjoys visiting the United Kingdom. Within DBE, she has helped organize fundraising teas and other activities supporting the organization’s charitable work.

Carolyn’s connection to DBE comes through her family’s British heritage. She values the organization’s longstanding commitment to service and, in particular, its support of Cantata, the British Home.

After more than two decades as a DBE member, Carolyn continues to support the organization through her service and involvement.

 Sherry Lyden

For Sherry, DBE provides an opportunity for British and Commonwealth women to come together with a shared purpose and passion: supporting seniors at Cantata, the British Home, while also giving back to their communities through charitable service.

Sherry has been a member of DBE since 2013 and is Regent of the House of Stuart Chapter. Professionally, she has worked as a Benefits Advisor with Aflac for more than 26 years.

Within DBE, Sherry has served as Regent, Recording Secretary, and Chapter Treasurer. She has also participated in a variety of fundraising and community activities, including England Tree Decorating at the Museum of Science and Industry, Holiday Craft Fairs at the British Home, Whisky Tasting for a Cause fundraisers, and the British Craft Faire celebrating the King’s Coronation.

Outside of DBE, Sherry enjoys spending time in her garden.

Sherry’s British Isles heritage comes through her family, with great-grandparents on both sides of her family coming from Ireland.

Barbara Bond

 After more than four decades of membership, Barbara brings a wealth of experience and history to the organization, along with a deep appreciation for the friendships and fellowship that make DBE special. 

Barbara has been a member of DBE since 1985 and is a member of Barrington Court Chapter. She previously worked as an Executive Assistant.

Over her many years with DBE, Barbara has held numerous leadership positions, including State Organizer, 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents, State President, and Midwest Organizer. She also served as National Organizer during the 32nd Administration.

Barbara enjoys the conversation, humor, and camaraderie that come from gathering with like-minded women. Outside of DBE, her interests include baking, dinner parties, history, and sewing.

Barbara was born in Preston, Lancashire, England, where she attended school and worked in nearby Southport. Her British heritage remains an important part of her identity and her connection to DBE.

Lorna Bennett

 Lorna loves the sisterhood of DBE and the many wonderful women who are willing to help, have fun, and make a difference together. Her favorite part of the organization is the opportunity to build friendships while serving a shared cause.

Lorna was born in South Wales and has lived in Bristol, Liverpool, and London. She worked in IT for many years before becoming an Office Manager for a large retail company branch office. Outside of DBE, she enjoys pottery, traveling, reading, and games.

Lorna originally joined DBE in 1987–89 while living in Connecticut as a member of Princess Marina Chapter. She rejoined in 1999 after relocating to Chicago. Since then, she has held numerous leadership positions, including Illinois State President, Recording Secretary, and 2nd Vice President for Membership on the State Board, as well as Communications Secretary on the National Board during the 32nd Administration. She currently serves as Regent of Dorothy Vernon Chapter and as a Director on the Cantata/British Home Board.

Nicola Crowe

 For Nicola, DBE offers the opportunity to connect with other women with British connections while supporting a worthy cause and celebrating the organization’s remarkable history. 

Nicola has been a member of DBE since 2023 and belongs to Dorothy Vernon Chapter, where she serves as Recording Secretary.

Nicola has a background in research psychology, having worked as a Research Child Psychologist in the United Kingdom and New Jersey. She later worked for many years as a school library assistant in Seattle and now volunteers with several international organizations, including serving as a Director of Programs for one of them.

Within DBE, Nicola has served as Standard Bearer.

Her interests include traveling, music and concerts, reading historical fiction and biographies, hiking, and spending time with family.

Nicola’s British heritage comes from both sides of her family. Her mother was British, while her father was half British and half Finnish. Born in England and raised in Finland, Nicola later lived and worked in several cities throughout the United Kingdom before moving to the United States.

Trudy Wallace

Trudy was born in London, England, and currently resides in Chicago. She enjoyed a distinguished career in education as a policy analyst and Director of Programs for Gifted Students. Her work included program evaluation, grant writing and administration, program development, and professional development for teachers and parents. She was the principal grant writer and administrator for grants, and has authored more than 20 publications on gifted education, school reform, professional development, and literacy. Her contributions to education have been recognized with several awards, including a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois College of Education.

Trudy has been a member of DBE since 2003. She has served as Treasurer and Regent of Buckingham Chapter and held the positions of 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, and Secretary on the Illinois State Board. She has also supported the DBE Scholarship Program and numerous state, national, and Midwest activities.

Outside of DBE, Trudy enjoys reading, classical music, opera, travel, family, and time with friends.

Georgia Abrams

For Georgia, DBE brings together her love of history, creativity, service, and community—and, most importantly, the opportunity to build something meaningful with other women.

Georgia has been a member of DBE since 2015 and is a member of Lancashire Rose Chapter, where she serves as Regent. She also serves as Midwest District Organizer and National Archivist, supporting DBE members and chapters across the Midwest while helping preserve and share the organization’s history. She has been involved in chapter, state, district, and national initiatives, including membership and outreach, marketing, and archival projects. She particularly enjoys finding creative ways to connect DBE’s history and heritage with its future.

Professionally, Georgia is an Archaeological Collections Specialist at the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, where her work focuses on archaeological collections, preservation, documentation, and emergency preparedness.

Georgia was born in Leicester, England, and grew up in Fleetwood, Lancashire. Her British heritage and connection to Lancashire remain an important part of her life and her involvement in DBE.

Outside of DBE, Georgia enjoys crafting, gaming,  writing, history, archaeology, travel, and exploring the strange and unusual.