Dorothy Fissel, 91, conservatory and Economy Shop volunteer
Dorothy East Fissel, 91, died on Nov. 12, 2008 at her home in Oak Park where she lived for over 40 years.
She is remembered fondly by family and friends for her zest for living and her care of others. She rode her three-wheeled cycle around Oak Park, volunteered at the Oak Park Conservatory, the Economy Shop, and her church. She enjoyed making rugs and quilts for family members and others.
“Dorothy was warm and friendly,” recalled Lourdes Kaczkowski, a friend and neighbor. “I would see her riding her bike around Oak Park, mostly on Lake Street, until last year. She was slow but steady and would also walk her dog often. I didn’t know how old she was but was amazed to find out she was in her 90s.”
The wife of the late Calvin W. East and Curtis Leroy Fissel, she is survived by her son Donald Dean (Pam); her daughters, June Ann Scharf (the late Norman) of Oak Park and Nancy East Griffith (Lionell); her stepchildren, Enid Hunt (Robert) and Harlan Fissel (Lois); her grandchildren, Cheryl Jackson (James), Bradley Fissel (Andrea), Cathy Helfrich (Jeff), Beth Bushu (Brent), Aimee Schade (Aaron), Mary Margaret Fissel, Jeff Fissel, Doris Fissel, Susan Fissel and Linda Price (Mel), Steve Fissel (Bev), Lois Ann Fissel, and Larry Fissel; and 25 great-grandchildren. Gene (Betty) and Robert Fissel preceded her in death.
A memorial service will be held at the Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Oak Park with Rev. Harriett Cross officiating. Stephen Fissel, a member of the Seattle Symphony, will provide music to celebrate Dorothy’s rich and varied life.
John Moeller, Rosemary Sheridan, Moved to Oak Park from Ecuador
John G. Moeller, 84, and Rosemary Sheridan Moeller, 88, both of Oak Park, Asheville, N.C., and St. Augustine, Fla. died on Oct. 5 and Nov. 25, 2008, respectively.
Mrs. Moeller was born in Goshen, Ind., in 1919, and Mr. Moeller was born in Quito, Ecuador in 1924. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he was a life-long Rotarian and member of the Knights of Columbus. The couple met in 1945 at the University of Notre Dame, where Rosemary worked as secretary to President John J. Cavanaugh, and then the couple lived in Ecuador until moving to Oak Park in 1963.
Mr. Moeller worked for two decades with the Illinois Dept. of Public Aid.
Mr. and Mrs. Moeller were the parents of Mary Lou (Martin) Noll, John G. Moeller Jr., Philip (Agatha) Moeller and the late Barbara Elizabeth Moeller; the grandparents of Cassie Noll and Rosemary (William) Reardon, Tracy (Brett) SanFratello, Brian and Kelly Moeller, and Jennifer and Jessica Moeller; and the great-grandparents of Kylie and Sydney SanFratello and William “Liam” Reardon. Rosemary was the sister of the late Anabel Sheridan, the late Philip Sheridan and the late John J. (the late Benita) Sheridan and the aunt of Christine Sheridan Foster.
Interment for Mr. Moeller has already occurred. Private interment for Mrs. Moeller will take place at East Oak Ridge Cemetery in Goshen, Ind. Arrangements were handled by Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home.
Frances Scherer, 96, Missionary, nurse, teacher, author
Frances E. Scherer, 96, former missionary in China and Japan, whose long life included careers as nurse, teacher and author, died on Nov. 30, 2008 in Oak Park. Death was attributed to Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Shanghai, China on April 9, 1912, the oldest daughter of George D. and Mary O. Schlosser, Free Methodist missionaries in China, she lived most of her early life in north-central China. Educated for several years at home, she later attended the American School at Kikungshan (A.S.K.), a boarding school, where she graduated from high school in 1931.
Following her husband’s retirement from the Lutheran School of Theology in 1992, Frances moved in 1995 to Oak Park, where she has been an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and served for a time as hospice volunteer for the West Suburban Hospital. In Nov. 2004, she became a resident of the Belmont Village of Oak Park, living in the dementia unit.
Survivors include her husband of 60 years, James A. Scherer of Oak Park; her son, James D. Scherer; her daughter, Susan M. Scherer of River Forest; five grandchildren (David, Stephanie, Elisabeth, Charles and William); and two younger siblings, all China born: Winifred Waltner and John H. Schlosser. She was preceded in death by her youngest sister, Anabel Miller.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Dec. 4 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home 203 S. Marion St., Oak Park. Funeral service will be held Friday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 611 Randolph, Oak Park, followed by interment at Wheaton Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (nursing scholarships), 525 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205: or to Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago 60615 (“Scherer Fellowship”).
Robert Drumm, 52, Attorney
Robert Drumm, 52, a 16-year resident of the Oak Park-River Forest area, previously of Denver, died on Nov. 25, 2008 in Park Ridge. Born on July 7, 1956 in Harvey, he was raised in Park Forest, attended Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields, and earned his bachelor’s degree at the U. of I. Champaign-Urbana and his master’s at the University of Colorado in Denver. He received his law degree at Northern Illinois University.
A self-employed attorney, he was an avid reader, lifelong runner, and enjoyed baseball and golf.
Mr. Drumm is survived by his wife, Barbara Drumm of River Forest; his son, Andrew Drumm; his mother, Helen Bundy; his brothers, Thomas and John Drumm; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, are appreciated.
Memorial visitation will be held Thursday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m. until time of service, 6:30 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams, 203 S. Marion St., Oak Park.
Charles Bernat, 72, Worked in alternative energy R&D
Chuck Bernat, 72, of Oak Park, died Nov. 26, 2008, at his home of cancer. His death follows a lifelong commitment to his family, church and community. Born Jan. 10, 1936, the son of Mary and Charles Bernat of Chicago, he married Linda Maier on July 3, 1958.
Mr. Bernat was very active at his church home, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Oak Park, where he ushered weekly, served on the church council, pastor call and property committees, manned the local food pantry and provided breakfast for PADS. Before that, he and his family attended Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Maywood.
He served as an Irving School Cub Scout Leader for Pack 4 during the ’70s as well as PTO school board rep. He was an avid supporter of the OPRF Music Dept., especially enjoying jazz band concerts, for more than 30 years.
He volunteered to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956-58 at Camp Pendleton, then graduated from Morton Community College and worked in research and development for Amphenol and later for Zenith for 17 years at various Chicago-area locations. He then found his favorite job at M-C Power, an alternative energy development firm in Burr Ridge. There he worked on a team developing hydrogen power technology and earned a patent for a new type of ceramic material used to make hydrogen-powered fuel cells.
Chuck Bernat is survived by his four children and their families: Sandra and Mark Ridolfi with daughters Linnea and Angela; Lisa and Larry Guagenti, with daughters Molly and Kelly; David and Kim Bernat, of Oak Park; and Todd Bernat. He also is survived by his sister Kathy McGovern, her husband Terry, and in-laws Dennis and Phyllis Ondrovic and Glen and Liz Maier, plus seven nieces and nephews and seven great-nieces and -nephews.
A memorial service was held Nov. 30 at his church. Memorials may be sent in his name to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 611 Randolph St., Oak Park 60302. Arrangements were handled by Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home.