Obituary for Charlene M. Hendrickson Charlene Mary (Cooper) Hendrickson, age 85, surrounded by the love of her family, soared into Heaven from her home on September 11, 2018. She wrapped us up in this beauty, giving us one final hug before retreating to the skies. To be there at this sacred time of her life was the greatest gift to have ever received.
We, her family – were her ushers. Taking her hand and escorting her from this world to the next and handing her off to those that went before her as her final breath left her body. Charlene was born on January 8, 1933 in Waukegan, Illinois to Charles and Mary (Teeling) Cooper.
She graduated from Holy Child Catholic High School in 1951 and went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of St. Teresa in 1955. Her first job was teaching Anatomy, Physiology, and Neurology at St. Therese Hospital in Waukegan. She married Richard Hendrickson, the love of her life later that year in October.
They started their family the next year and went on to raise 7 wonderful children. Charlene switched to the county hospital as a staff nurse to put her BSN degree to work. She missed teaching and switched back to St. Therese Hospital for a short stint before accepting a position as In-Service Director at Long Term Care facility where she worked for over 9 years.
Charlene transitioned over to the Lake County Health Department, Health Facilities Division as Institutional Nurse Consultant. This is where she found her true passion of helping children. She worked with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for 20 years.
She developed a 140 page fact sheet publication for the county childcare centers and was the only county to do this in the entire state. As she said “I contributed to the safety and well-being of the youngest and most vulnerable county citizens, also the cutest! ” For her advocacy in long term care, she received the Illinois Governor’s Award in 1988.
After retirement she continued to volunteer in the community and at her church St. Anastasia in Waukegan. She was a member of the education committee of the Child Care Coalition, Board member and chairperson for the annual senior recognition luncheon for the Lake County Council for Seniors, and an advisory board member for the Y.W.C.A Child Care Re and Referral Program. At church, Charlene was a Eucharistic Minister of Communion, helped fill grocery bags for the food pantry and taught CCD for 40 years.
She received the Woman of the Year Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago for her volunteer work. Charlene was the heart of the Hendrickson family and taught so much to so many. She cherished her family and played an integral role in the lives of those close to her.
She lead by example and modeled unconditional love, honesty, and inner strength. She won the trust and hearts of many, who even now are being changed by her witness of constant nurturing love and faith. Her strong will to live, unwavering faith in God, and the love and prayers of family and friends carried her through many health issues over the years.
Yet, that never seemed to stop her from baking her signature bake goods, writing notes and cards to family and friends, sending the weekly email from the confuser to the grandkids, reading, going out with friends for lunch and having people visit, especially her grandchildren. She was highly interested in all their activities. She was most proud of her children: Susan Hendrickson, Thomas (Karen) Hendrickson, Jean (Jerry) Zegar, Brian Hendrickson, David (Nancy) Hendrickson, Kay (Bob) Walker, and Carol (Tim) Radosevich.
Her 17 grandchildren: Jason and Kyle Radosevich, Tommy, Mary and Trevor Hendrickson, Christopher, Jonathan and Emily Zegar, Kelly Besaw, Maddie and Abby Hendrickson, Elizabeth Kroeger, Hannah Walker, Alyssa, Jillian, Michael and Alec Radosevich, her 10 great grandchildren and her beloved nieces and nephews. Charlene was preceded in death by her adoring husband of 60 years, Richard Hendrickson, her parents, Charles and Mary Cooper, sisters Anna Mae Kovacek and LaRaine Vanderpool, her beloved daughter (in-law) Nancy Hendrickson whom she always called her dear Nancy, and daughter Susan Hendrickson to which she was heartbroken after losing her at the age of 40. What a legacy she has left!
The unconditional love she shared will never be forgotten. She was the matriarch of our family, our anchor and our rock. Thank you for always being there for us, for teaching us, listening to us, helping and forgiving us, loving us, and always, always paving the way for us.
We will work hard to reach the standard you set. Farewell our sweet Mother. You were simply magnificent!
To quote one of her many friends “Thank you for who you are, all the goodness in you, your courage and integrity, and all the wonderful character traits that have blessed this world because you have chosen goodness all along life’s way”. Oh, how rare and beautiful you are! Godspeed to the greatest person we have even known!
Funeral Mass will be at 10:00am on Monday, September 17, 2018 at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, 624 Douglas Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois. Visitation will be from 2:00-6:00pm on Sunday, September 16, 2018 at Peterson and Patch Funeral Home located at 408 North Sheridan Road, Waukegan, Illinois and from 9:00am to time of Mass at the Church on Monday. Interment will be at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, Masses or donations in Charlene’s name may go to St. Anastasia Catholic Church, 625 Douglas Avenue, Waukegan, Il. 60085. Please sign our guestbook at www.
waukeganfunerals.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Charlene M. Hendrickson please visit our Sympathy Store. Cemetery Details Ascension Cemetery 1928 Buckley Rd Libertyville, IL, 60048 , Previous Events Visitation , SEP 16. 02:00 PM – 06:00 PM Peterson and Patch Funeral Home 408 North Sheridan Road Waukegan, IL, US, 60085 info@petersonpatchfuneralhome.com www.
petersonpatchfuneralhome.com/ Visitation , SEP 17. 09:00 AM – 10:00 AM St. Anastasia Church 624 Douglas Ave Waukegan, IL, US, 60085 www. stanastasiaparish.org Mass , SEP 17.
10:00 AM St. Anastasia Church 624 Douglas Ave Waukegan, IL, US, 60085 www.
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