08/10/2026
Elinor J. Bergdolt
Elinor J. Bergdolt, most recently of Prospect Heights and Wheeling, Illinois, passed away peacefully just before midnight on August 1, 2026, hours before her 100th birthday. Because most of her family was in town anticipating her birthday celebration, she was able to spend her last days in the company of loved ones.
Elinor was born August 3, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest daughter of Carl and Hannah Johnson. Elinor was preceded in death by her parents, her two older sisters, Helen Johnson and and Dorothy Carlson, her beloved husband, Louis Bergdolt, and her stepdaughter, Mary Bergdolt Slider. She is survived by her daughter Barbara Wolf (Craig), sons Thomas Ward (Jeanne) and Scott Ward (Christine), and stepchildren Anita Chanoux (David), Beth Parker and Fred Bergdolt; grandchildren Karen, Katie, Emily, Matthew, Brian, Becky, Tim and Laura; and great-grandchildren Theo, Nate, Henry and Ella.
Elinor was a long-time member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Des Plaines, IL, where she and her husband Louie were active participants, serving as Trustees and on several other committees over the years. Many of her friends, especially later in life, were people she met through church. She enjoyed years of social gatherings with the Maine West “Science Bunch,” with her knitting group, and with other widows whom she invited to her home for lunch every New Year’s Day.
She enjoyed travelling, particularly visiting children and grandchildren. She especially loved time spent throughout her life at lakes in Wisconsin – her parents’ summer homes in Spread Eagle and Long Lake near Waupaca; family trips to St. Germain when her children were young and later with Louie; and several years of end-of-summer stays in Door County with her good friend Pat Jipson, the late mother of daughter-in-law Jeanne.
She loved to shop, not so much for clothing or other practical necessities, but in antique shops or interesting gift shops where she searched for treasures to give to others, or for her own home. She loved flowers, birds and bunnies and happily filled her home with them. She was a voracious reader, mostly of novels, and an enthusiastic patron of her local library.
Elinor proudly lived independently in her own condo in Rob Roy in Prospect Heights until a fall a few months before her 98th birthday necessitated a move to assisted living at The Landing in Wheeling. For the last few years in her condo and for the two years spent at The Landing, she was blessed with the daily support and company of her helper and friend, Tatiana Chihai. Tatiana was devoted to Elinor and Elinor loved her like family. Our family will always be indebted to Tatiana for the love and care she gave our mother.
Over a long and active life, there was nothing more important to Elinor than her family. She said that most of all, what she wanted people to remember about her was that she loved her family and that she was proud of every one of them. Her family was grateful to feel that love every day, for so many years.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at G.L. Hills Funeral Home, 745 Graceland Ave, Des Plaines, Illinois. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m., with the service beginning at noon. In lieu of flowers, Elinor requested that if desired, memorials could be given to First Congregational United Church of Christ, Des Plaines, IL 60016; Prospect Heights Public Library, 12 Elm St., Prospect Heights, IL 60070; the National MS Society, www.nationalmssociety.org; or a charity of the donor’s choice. For information, please call the funeral home at 847-699-9003 or visit www.glhillsfuneralhome.com.
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