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Harriet Caroline (Rudnick) Bergstrand
February 22, 1926 ~ September 17, 2015 (age 89) 89 Years OldShare using:
Harriet Caroline Bergstrand
February 22, 1926 – September 17, 2015
Harriet Caroline Bergstrand, 89, residing in Schubert Villa at Holy Cross Village, Notre Dame, IN, passed away at 7:35am on Thursday, September 17, 2015 from a brain tumor. She was born February 22, 1926 in Chicago, IL to the late Maximillian and Julia (Trionowska) Rudnick. Surviving Harriet are her daughter, Cindy Sample of El Dorado Hills, CA; son, Jeffrey H. (Cyndee) Bergstrand of Granger, IN; five grandchildren, Dawn and Jeffery Sample, Kirsten (Ben) Ramsour, and Lauren and Jason Bergstrand; brother, Richard R. Rudnick of Northbrook, IL; sisters-in-law, Irene Rudnick of Lake Villa, IL and Vicky Rudnick of Sun City West, AZ; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, Harriet grew up in Chicago, IL and lived her entire life (until this last year) in the Chicago area in Cook and McHenry counties. During her childhood, she loved playing with paper dolls and aspired to be a teacher. While never attaining that position officially in her life, she taught and inspired her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and their children, and numerous real estate agents in her 35-year career as a successful real estate broker and manager of a realty office in McHenry, IL, retiring only when she reached 80 years in age.
Before her 35-year career as a real estate broker, Harriet had numerous jobs including working behind the soda counter at S.S. Kresge, repairing watches for a watch company and tracking trains at Union Station in Chicago during WWII. She attended North Central College in the Chicago area for two years after high school. After WWII, she met Harold V. Bergstrand, whom she married on September 5, 1948. Together, they raised Cindy and Jeff in residences in Des Plaines, Palos Heights, Woodstock, and Crystal Lake. After her divorce in 1984, Harriet moved to a condominium in McHenry. She enjoyed reading on her balcony, cooking and baking for herself and her family and friends, attending church, playing bridge and pinochle, and spending time with her numerous friends at home and at Senior Services in McHenry. She loved visiting with Cindy and her grandchildren in California and with Jeff, Cyndee and her grandchildren in Indiana. She enjoyed trips with her daughter to Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, and all over the United States.
Noted for her wry humor, one-liners and zingers, Harriet was truly loved by many people. She maintained deep friendships from high school and developed close and life-long friendships through her real estate career, church attendance, and bridge and pinochle playing in McHenry. She gave with unlimited generosity time, wisdom, and love to her parents, children, grandchildren, four brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, and scores of friends. She will be deeply, deeply missed.
A memorial service for Harriet will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 404 N. Green St., McHenry, IL. Rev. Roger Schneider, pastor of Shepherd of the Hills, will officiate. Friends may visit with the family one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the church. Palmer Funeral Home and Southlawn Cremation Services are assisting the family with arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be donated to Senior Services Association, Inc., 3519 N. Richmond Road, McHenry, IL 60051. Online condolences may be left for the Bergstrand family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com/notices/Harriet-Bergstrand.
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