Prairie State Wire

Eleanor Vander Giessen, 89, of Schererville, IN, formerly of South Holland, IL, passed away on February 17, 2025. She was the loving sister of the late Agnes Vander Giessen and late Shirley (late Mart) Boer, and dear aunt of Bob (Laurie) Boer, Linda (Scott) Dekker, and Elaine (Bill) DeYoung. Eleanor was a great-aunt to ten great nieces and nephews, and 27 great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Adrian and Elsie Vander Giessen.

A lifelong member of the First Orthodox Presbyterian Church of South Holland, Eleanor faithfully played the organ in services for 68 years, including 64 years for the Chancel Choir. She worked as an accountant in Chicago and South Holland before retiring in 2000 from O'Neill & Gaspardo after 20 years of service.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 10, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Smits Funeral Home in Dyer, IN, with Rev. Dan Svendsen officiating. The funeral service will be live streamed from their Facebook page. Interment will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Lansing, IL. Memorial donations may be given to the First Orthodox Presbyterian Church Organ Fund in South Holland, IL.

For further information, please contact 219-322-7300 or visit the online obituary and guestbook at www.SMITSFH.com. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Eleanor Vander Giessen, please visit their Sympathy Store.

Click here to read the original obituary.