Eleanor "Tootie" R. Gardiner

ELEANOR R “TOOTIE” GARDINER, 78 , of Chester, Illinois, passed away at 6:25 pm, Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at Three Springs Lodge Nursing Home in Chester, Illinois .

She was born to the late Louis H. and Marie (nee Bueckman) Blechle on April 7, 1938 in Chester, Illinois.

She married Keith Runge on July 4, 1959; he preceded her in death on December 22, 1962. She then married Carl H. Gardiner on July 17, 1965 in Farrar, Missouri; he preceded her in death on December 4, 2011.

She had been a beautician and owned her own shop “Tootie’s Beauty Shop” from 1972 until her retirement in 2003.

Tootie was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Chester, Illinois, the Blessed Virgin Mary Altar Sodality, had sang in the Choir, RCIA instructor, CYO moderator, an Eucharistic minister, attended Marriage Encounter at the King’s House and served on Parish Council.   She was also a member of the Kaskaskia Hairdresser Association and National Hairdresser Association.  She also had done hair and make-up for the Chester High School Drama Department.

Survivors:

3 Children:    David Runge                Bunker Hill, IL

Chris (Frank) Barthol    Chester, IL

Kelley Gardiner            Chester, IL

2 Step Children:  Debbie (Kendall) Brandon   Cypress, TX

Terry (Donna) Gardiner      Cypress, TX

2 Sisters:             Evelyn Wittenborn            Chester, IL

Patricia Whistler                Chaffee, MO

5 Grandchildren:        Frank, Brett, Trey, Rashelle & Rianna

6 Step Grandchildren:   Michael, Kyle, Eric, Amy, Beth and Kevin

Several Step Great Grandchildren

Several Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and Friends

Preceded in death by :  Parents, Husband – Carl, 1st Husband – Keith Runge and 1 Sister – Eileen Meyer

Funeral Mass :            10:00 am, Saturday, October 22, 2016

St. Mary Catholic Church, Chester, Illinois

Officiating: Very Reverend Eugene H. Wojcik, V.F.

Interment :                 St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery

Chester, Illinois

Visitation :                  Friday - 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Saturday - 7:30 am – 9:45 am

Pechacek-McClure Funeral Home, Chester, Illinois

Memorials: St. Mary Catholic Church or School