Helena (Leni) Ideler, 94

Helena (Leni) Ideler, 94, of Woodstock, passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 18, 2021, surrounded by family.

She was born in Dinklage, Germany, on Feb. 3, 1926, to Bernhard and Emma Moellers. In her 20s she followed her fiancé (Albert Ideler) to the United States, where they were married several months later. Leni and Albert celebrated 65 years of marriage on Nov. 12, 2020, raising their family in Woodstock, Ill.

Leni was a loving wife, mother, oma, and omama. She was a talented seamstress who shared her talents with many over the years. In addition to sewing, she loved to knit, crochet, and do amazing needlework. Her hands were never idle; she was always creating something beautiful. She was also an avid gardener who spent many hours outside tending her vegetable garden and especially her beautiful flower gardens, which surrounded their home.

She was an active member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock, spending many years

as a Mariola club member, serving on several committees, and singing in the church choir.

After her husband retired, they enjoyed many wonderful trips around the U.S., including Alaska

and Hawaii, visiting family in Germany, and spending the months of March in Arizona for 25

years.

Leni’s biggest passion was her family. After raising their four children, she jumped right into the role of oma to her eight grandchildren and then omama to her 16 great-grandchildren. She loved nothing more than spending time with her ever-growing family, cooking the best meals, babysitting, providing rides to and from school, providing after-school snacks to her grandchildren and any friends they might have brought with them that day, and helping out wherever she was needed. She was adored and known as oma to all. In recent years, she was most proud of her 16 great-grandchildren, who never failed to put a smile on her face. She loved it when her house was overflowing with little ones.

Leni is survived by her husband, Albert; four children, Edgar, Rita (Ray) Caywood, Monica (Dan) Starck; and Maria (Paul) Sandall; eight grandchildren, Elizabeth (Eric) Sullivan, Amanda (Mike) Rindt, Jessica (Adam) Estrada,, Justine (Jonathan) O’Brien, Jason (Katie) Stack, Nathan Starck, Tanner Sandall, and Travis Sandall; 16 great-grandchildren, Logan, Caleb, and Bentley Sullivan, Shylee, Braelyn, and Della Rindt, Dakota and Easton Estrada, Bria, Weston, Shelby, and Chase O’Brien, Bailey and Helena Starck, and Carson and Belle Starck; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bernhard and Emma Moellers, and her siblings, Hedwig, Josef, Anna, Maria, Heinz, Ewald, and Lissy.

There will be a short visitation at Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, Woodstock, at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, followed by the funeral Mass at 1:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Hartland, Ill.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Journey Care (Hospice) Foundation, journeycare.org/donate.

For information, contact the Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home at 815-338-1710, or visit slmcfh.com.