Paula “Polly” Ruth Rogers Backes was a strong, passionate soul who cared deeply about making those around her feel loved through her incredible hugs, personalized gifts, infectious laugh, her life of service to others, and quiet battles against all forms of injustice. Polly began her eternal rest peacefully on July 23, 2026 surrounded by loved ones and listening to some of her favorite music. 

 Born December 28, 1954 to Dorothy and William Rogers in Oakland, California, Polly’s journey took her all over the United States. After beginning her life in the Bay Area of California (Oakland) and spending a number of years in the Pacific Northwest, her family settled in Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1968. Late in her high school years, she took a fateful trip with friends a few towns over to North Salem, New York, where she met her future husband, Christopher Backes. After 4 years together, including overlap at the University of Connecticut, they married on August 6, 1977, then spent the next 49 years building an incredible life together. 

 After participating in a pioneering study of Diabetic Pregnancy at the Yale New Haven Hospital in 1979-80, Polly and Chris brought their first son, Benjamin, into the world on July 1, 1980. Shortly afterwards, they moved to Montgomery, Alabama. After a stint there, some more time in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and a brief layover in Willowbrook, Illinois, the family settled in Downers Grove, Illinois in 1989. There, they gave birth to their second son, Jesse, on September 27, 1991. Polly and Chirs have been there ever since, navigating all of life’s trials, tribulations, and triumphs.

 Polly’s career took many twists and turns. She was a teacher by education, and she substitute taught in many different places throughout her adult life. She spent many years as a religious educator at multiple churches in the Unitarian Universalist Faith in Alabama and Illinois. After arriving in Downers Grove, Polly and Chris opened a toy store called Carousel Fare Ltd. focused on unique toys and creative development for kids, which they ran through much of the 1990s. She spent time in Special Education classrooms supporting young adults with disabilities, and she worked in a district administrative office supporting school libraries. Polly also worked for years at Anderson’s Book Shop in Downers Grove, sharing her immense love for reading and storytelling with kids. Her passion for teaching children and inspiring their love for learning was at the core of who she was, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Montgomery named their religious education wing after her to honor her contributions to furthering that core purpose in their community.

 Polly is survived by a loving and grieving family: her husband Christopher Backes, her son Benjamin (JoLynn) Backes of New York, her son Jesse (Alison Mitchell) Backes of Indiana, her adored grandson Christopher Paul Backes, her sisters Christine (Patrick) Mickler and Kelly (Peter) Tausanovitch, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins around the United States and world.

 Polly Backes was an unforgettable person. Her fierce strength, stubborn ideals, talk-it-through mentality, and acute senses of justice and humor were combined with her equally fierce loves of reading and learning, storytelling, philanthropy, and gift-giving to make up the core of an incredible and unique woman. Polly worked tirelessly to ensure her values of equality, love, and peace will live on in all those whose lives she touched. Her family will mourn her loss deeply, as will the many, many people on whom she had a meaningful impact during her 71 years with us.

Memorial Services will be announced shortly. Arrangements entrusted to Cappetta’s West Suburban Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Info 630-852-8000 or westsuburbanfh.com