SR1727 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1727 LRB100 21941 MST 39917 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Irene Ruth Schindel of Naperville, who passed away on May 1, 2018 at the age of 100; and

WHEREAS, Irene Schindel was born to Albert and Fredricka Blasing Hassert on April 13, 1918; she was raised in Will County, attended a rural one-room school through the 8th grade, and graduated from Lemont Township High School in 1936; she graduated from Joliet Junior College and earned a Bachelor of Arts from National Louis University; she completed graduate work at Northern Illinois University and married George Andrew Schindel on January 18, 1948; and

WHEREAS, Irene Schindel had a teaching career which lasted over 40 years; she taught at several rural schools and schools in Westmont, Warrenville, Woodridge, and Naperville; she retired in 1979 after teaching 5th grade at Beebe Elementary School in Naperville for 20 years; and

WHEREAS, After her retirement, Irene Schindel devoted much of her time to tutoring both children and adults who were learning English as a second language, teaching literacy skills to adults, and volunteering as a reading coach in public schools; and

WHEREAS, Irene Schindel was a member of the Family Service Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, the Will County Farm Bureau, and the DuPage County Chapter of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, where she also served as secretary; and

WHEREAS, Irene Schindel joined several women's golf leagues, and played multiple times a week at White Eagle Country Club as well as at Springbrook and Naperbrook Golf Courses; she also stayed fit by walking, often along the Naperville Riverwalk near her home; and

WHEREAS, Irene Schindel joined the Community United Methodist Church in Naperville (formerly First Evangelical United Brethren Church) in 1954 and was a member for over 60 years; she served as a children's Sunday School teacher and the Women's Book Club secretary-treasurer; she participated in the multi-cultural outreach team, attended the Forum adult class, and worked on many committees; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her adult life, Irene Schindel traveled frequently, making her first cross-country road trip to California in 1939 with a sister and brother; she visited most of the states in the U.S. as well as countries in North and Central America, Europe, North and West Africa, Asia, and Australia; she made her last solo trip at the age of 91, and her last family trip at the age of 96; and

WHEREAS, Irene Schindel enjoyed reading; she preferred books, magazines, and newspapers to movies or television; she loved spending time in her own yard where she tended her lawn and garden until the age of 92; she and her husband shared an appreciation for dance music, especially the big band sound of the 1930s and 40s, and were members of a ballroom dance club for decades; she enjoyed cooking and made traditional midwestern fare, as well as gourmet dishes; she was also a master baker; every Christmas she made intricately decorated cookies for family and friends; her pies, cakes, and caramels were always in demand; and

WHEREAS, Irene Schindel was preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents; her older sister and her three brothers and their spouses, Evelyn Homerding (John), Howard Hassert (Dorothy), Roy Hassert (Irene), and George Hassert (Blanche); her brother-in-law, Harold Thoman; her parents-in-law, Edmund and Ida Hagemann Schindel; her four sisters and three brothers-in-law and their spouses, Viola Kinsey, Emma Bailey (Warren), Margaret Schultz (Ben), Gladys Venard (Charles), Raymond Schindel (Alice), Edmund Schindel II (Marion), and William Schindel (Betty); her brother-in-law, Edward Heim; three nieces; and seven nephews; and

WHEREAS, Irene Schindel is survived by her loving daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Hendrik Knipscheer; her granddaughter, Christine Belling; her grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Paul and Beth Knipscheer; her great-grandchildren, Elizabeth and Nicholas Belling and Christian and Ellis Knipscheer; her sister, Pearl Thoman; her sister-in-law, Vernette Heim; eight nieces; 11 nephews; many great-nieces and great-nephews and their children; and her long-time, dedicated caregiver, Karen Shirky, who devoted herself to providing for Irene's needs for eight years; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Irene Ruth Schindel, and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Irene Schindel as an expression of our deepest sympathy.