Eleanor Kyker Patterson, 94, a former 50-year Hinsdale resident, passed away Oct. 2, 2022.
Born Eleanor Sharp Kyker in Sevierville, Tenn., she graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1949 and taught English for two years. In 1951 she married Dee Purifoy Patterson of Camden, Ark. They raised a family of six while moving about the country for his work at General Electric.
Dee Patterson passed away in 1976.
Eleanor joined Union Church of Hinsdale in 1972 because it was "an active, useful, and happy community; the church was doing things of value, and everybody seemed to be having a good time doing it". She made many friends there and was very active in church functions, including resale, the Allegro Bell Choir, the Stocking Project, plant sale, and numerous dinners and fundraisers. She was on the board of directors of Washington Square retirement community in Hinsdale for 16 years.
She loved digging in the dirt. She planted flowers, bushes, and trees around every house the family ever lived in. Her Hinsdale home is covered in vines and decorative plants reaching out to the curb, and the yard is shaded by massive trees. She spent many happy hours potting plants for friends, family, and church plant sales
With her children grown, Eleanor and friends from Union Church traveled in Europe and the Middle East. The family refrigerator became layered with snapshots of family, friends, vacations, graduations, pets, weddings, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Jane (Randy) Craig, Bob (Mary Kay), Julie (Jonathan) Griffitts, Dan, John (Darla) and Lolly (Steve) McDonnell; her 15 grandchildren; her five great-grandchildren; and her longtime friend, Irving Clarke.
Internment will be Oct. 8 in Sevierville, Tenn.
A celebration of life service will be held at Union Church of Hinsdale at a later date.
Memorials may be made to South Chicago Christian Center, c/o Tom Kennington, 8542 South Essex Ave, Chicago, IL 60617 or via Zelle at (773) 544-8831.
Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services Ltd. in Willowbrook handled the arrangements.
