OUR BIG MAMA, with a heart dedicated to her “family,” which included all the citizens in this fair city, has left us saddened but grateful we were gifted to know gracious, savvy and strong Maggie Daley, Queen of Chicago. She would be the first to dismiss that title, for this no-nonsense woman had no use for phony “tags.” Maggie looked you in the eye, was friendly, warm, never put on airs or wanted a mantle of greatness.

MAGGIE DALEY, sincerely mourned by all who valued her important work with children, teens, the disabled and the arts, was also an important symbol of triumph over breast cancer. She fought for nine years and showed other cancer survivors that every day was a victory. Always smiling, Maggie and her doctor, Steven Rosen of Northwesten Memorial Hospital, attended the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation luncheons, inspiring everyone. She was proud of the Maggie Daley Center for Women’s Cancer Care at Prentice Hospital.

DESPITE HER OWN LIFE-AND-DEATH BATTLE, our Maggie never stopped her labors for children and the arts. We last saw her having lunch at RL a few months ago with daughter Nora and some “long time friends.” We reminded her we ran into each other in Paris years ago. In earlier days, Maggie loved to travel and often did with best pal Shirley (Mrs. Patrick) Ryan.

THE SADDEST WORDS WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE are “One of us must go first.” Our deepest sympathy flows to former Mayor Richard Daley who adored this sweet, funny and vibrant lady who made his difficult, mad political life bearable. As a wife and mother, Maggie was a constant source of sanity and joy. Richard’s future has lost its sunshine and peace. Thousands of grateful Chicagoans said their farewells to Maggie at the Cultural Center memorial and at the Old St. Pat’s funeral service. She was our uncrowned “queen.”

WHEN WE ALL LEARNED a few weeks ago that daughter Lally was moving up her wedding to Sam Hotchkiss because Maggie was ill, we all said a little prayer. When we heard that Rich Daley was canceling a trip to Harvard and would not leave her side, we all said a little prayer. It was not answered.

WHO IS THE ATTRACTIVE, ACCOMPLISHED professional woman who awoke from a sweet dream to heed the call of nature and decided to keep her eyes closed so perhaps she could get back in bed and continue the dream? Instead she created a nightmare — tripping over a shoe and breaking her hip.

WHO IS THE SERIOUSLY DEPRESSED WIDOWER who is refusing to eat, leave the house, or talk to relatives and friends since the death of his beloved wife of 23 years? An intervention didn’t make a dent in his grief.

WE REALLY BELIEVE YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU because if she could, Elizabeth Taylor would be wearing all her fabulous gems in the afterlife. And if you have big bucks you can bid on her amazing collection when Christie’s offers diamond encrusted rings and necklaces, bracelets and pins big enough to choke a horse between Dec. 13 and 16. Hundreds of items including her clothes, accessories and decorative arts will also be featured in a special online-only sale from Dec. 3 to 17, with prices from $100 to $10,000. Taylor had more bling than Queen Elizabeth of England because it was hers!

ELIZABETH TAYLOR’S GOODIES, more than 2,000, range from her magnificent gems to haute couture, ready-to-wear fashions, as well as designer handbags and coats, from Chanel, Dior, Valentino, Halston, etc. Dubbed “the Crown Jewels of Hollywood,” Liz’s gems, real and costume, will be gobbled up by fans and collectors. Who doesn’t want “a piece of Taylor” to brag about? They don’t make movie queens like Taylor any more. She was beautiful at 17 before they reshaped her nose so she would have no bad camera angles. In the original film, Father of the Bride, you can see the real Liz Taylor. After the Christie’s auction, her wordly goods will be scattered all over the globe for thousands to enjoy. We think she will approve.

DEMI AND ASHTON DOOMED BY AGE ... AND LACK OF MATURITY, on the part of Ashton Kutcher. So says dating guru Brandon Wade, citing the 15-year age difference as too difficult to overcome “because only a mature man could make such a marriage last.” And Ashton, at 25, was too young and immature when they first met.

THEIR VALUE AS PERFORMERS has changed because Demi Moore, now over 40, is losing her appeal due to aging, but Ashton, so much younger, is increasing in value as an actor. Certain cougar-cub relationships such as Hugh Jackman’s flourish because the male is mature and can make the union work. Kutcher cheated on Demi with Sara Leal because he’s a star who attracts women and he hadn’t been around the block so many times that one-night stands no longer interested him.

ASHTON IS PASSABLE as the “new Charlie Sheen” on TV’s popular Two and a Half Men, but we preferred good old Charlie Harper, warts and all. Kutcher is a little too precious and giggly in his role but the other cast members are so strong the half hour is still a treat. Are we wrong in feeling the show has gotten even raunchier with Kutcher?

DEMI WILL FIND ANOTHER MATE and Ashton has a lifetime to screw up again or find a soulmate eventually and settle down. But why should he? If we were a successful actor in Hollywood or New York we would live life to the hilt while looking for true love ... before fickle fate steps in ... and it always does.

DEMI IS FIGHTING WRINKLES AND ASHTON IS FIGHTING HIS LIBIDO. And never the twain shall live happily ever after.

ATTORNEY GENERAL LISA MADIGAN will be honored at a cocktail party at Petterino’s Dec. 5, hosted by the Martin Koldykes, Buzz Ruttenberg, Scott Hodes, Grant DePorter, Miles Berger, Sue Gin, Bruce Bachman, Adela Cepeda and campaign chair Suzie Glickman. Call 312-670-0606 for more information.

SISTERS, WE ALL OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE to breast cancer pioneer fighter Evelyn Lauder who died recently of ovarian cancer. This cosmetics queen was a survivor of breast cancer and created the pink ribbon symbol that helped spread the message of funds for research as well as early detection. A few years ago she came here to sell her elegant photographs of flowers with the proceeds going for research. Evelyn usually brought her friend and the face of Estee Lauder, actress Elizabeth Hurley, with her, to Marshall Field’s for promotions. Lauder, 75, was always gracious and eager to discuss the latest gains in research.

A HOLE IN ONE is a big deal to golfers and we congratulate trader Brad Griffith who hit one at the course in Lost Dunes, Mich. His wife is the well-known fashion designer Tiffani Kim who has designed furniture for their newly built Michigan home. Next door to the Richard Daley compound, their first home burned to the ground several years ago.

CONGRATS TO GINGER DOWNS, CEO of Realtors Young Professionals Network, named Network of the year at the expo in Anaheim, Calif. And the group is only 2 years old.

H. HORWITZ JEWELERS IN WATER TOWER PLACE is 112 years old, the oldest family-owned wholesale jeweler, estate and gold buyer, since 1899. Now operated by Craig and Phyllis Horwitz, the popular firm was honored to be one of 50 privately held companies in business for more than 50 years cited by Marketing Support Inc. Horwitz is especially well known for buying and selling estate pieces in its 9th floor professional section offices in Water Tower. Recently, at the opening night of the Lyric Opera, several magnificent diamond necklaces from Horwitz made their debut to raves. About the current excitement on the high price of gold, Phyllis, a fashionista, reminds women that their old gold chains and bracelets now bring big bucks. “If you don’t wear it, sell it or trade it for something you will enjoy wearing.”

SHOP AT THE DRAKE HOTEL DEC. 6 with CeCe Gonzales and Melinda Joseph where talented local designers will offer their jewelry, clothing, handbags, accessories, makeup, perfume, gifts, etc. It is a free bazaar.

PAMELA ANDERSON AS THE VIRGIN MARY? CAN PIGS FLY? Well, dahlings, seems like the producers of a Christmas special to air in her native Canada on CTV wanted the blond goddess for A Russell Peters Christmas, hosted by comic Peters. Others on the wild program Dec. 1 will be Jon Lovitz and Michael Buble.

TWENTY-ONE HOT DESIGNERS will offer their fashions, hats, bags, jewelry, etc., under the sponsorship of the Apparel Industry at 44 E. Grand Ave., through Dec. 31.

A $5 MILLION DOLLAR GIFT to the Botanical Garden in Naples, Fla., has been made by Eleanor and Nicholas Chabraja who have a home there and in Lake Forest. Nick is a lawyer who was CEO of General Dynamics for 12 years before retiring.

BEST CARTOON OF THE WEEK, by Brad Veley in Funny Times, shows two inmates talking in their cell. One says, “Say what you will about a life of crime, it’s one of the few remaining career choices with a recession-proof retirement plan that’s immune to the whims of the stock market.”

CONGRATS TO GREEN THUMBER BERNICE PINK whose rooftop garden, with metal and stone sculptures by artist Terrence Karpocz, has won first place in the Department of Environment’s high-rise landscaping competition. Pink’s 400 square-foot oasis was nominated by James Rogers. This plucky gardener has been watering away there for the past 16 years.

A REPORT SAYS THE AGREEMENT settling a sexual harassment allegation against GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain was dated Sept. 1999 — or 9-9-9. So God does have a sense of humor, insists the New York Post.

AND THEY SAID IT WOULDN’T LAST! Celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary are news anchor Walter Jacobson of channel 2 and his equestrian wife Susan. The couple is into horses and dogs — she rides and he walks their pooches.

“EVERY DAY I REMIND MYSELF THAT MY INNER AND OUTER LIFE ARE BASED ON THE LABORS OF OTHER MEN, LIVING AND DEAD, AND I MUST EXERT MYSELF IN ORDER TO GIVE IN THE SAME MEASURE AS I HAVE RECEIVED AND AM STILL RECEIVING.” —ALBERT EINSTEIN via Dante Bacani

CONTACT: annbgerber@gmail.com or 847-677-2232