DOLORES “Dee” GRAMS

Dolores “Dee” Grams, age 88, of Elburn, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love and prayers of her family on Monday, October 12, 2020.

She was born August 4, 1932, in Aurora, to loving parents, Edmund and Rita Schindel.

Dee grew up in Aurora and attended local schools. Following her graduation from high school, Dee was employed at Northern Illinois Gas, State Farm Insurance and volunteered many years at the Gift Shop at Copley Hospital, several of them as manager.

She was united in marriage to Edward Grams on January 9, 1954.

Dee’s heart was all about giving. She cared for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and attended their many varied events. She was passionate about horses, dogs, baking, ice cream and milkshakes and never met an ice cream cone she didn’t like. Dee made many a trip to the Hallmark Store every holiday season and purchased ornaments for her loved ones, and her deft hands lovingly made fleece tie blankets for her family members to cherish. She was currently in the process of making one for a recently engaged granddaughter. Her home baked goods tantalized the taste buds of both her family and friends and never disappointed. In her younger years, Dee traveled with the “Elite Eight” golf group and spent time with friends in Florida. Dee was never one to sit idle, but when she was, you could be sure she was in her backyard pool or lakeside at Assembly Park in Delavan or, for the last 30 years, at Lake Geneva with a cold beer or daiquiris in hand. All of the memories she made became the legacy she left behind as a treasure to enjoy for generations.

She leaves her loving husband Edward and puppy dog Louie; two sons: Mark (Sandy) Grams and Jay (Kristi) Grams; twelve grandchildren: Leslie (Dan) Kipper, Erin (Danny) Lorange, Melissa (Aaron) White, Andrea (Jeremy) Bilskey, Matt, Robert, Adam, Sarah, Emily, Abby, Daniel and Tyler Grams; six great-grandchildren: Sophia Parisi, Jarad Kipper, Sydney, Taylor and Skylar White, and Jackson Bilskey. Five siblings: Rita Smith, Edmund (Emma) Schindel, Robert (Fran) Schindel, Richard (Susan) Schindel and Linda Moore; two daughters -in-law: Ruth Grams and Tammy Grams; many nieces, nephews and a countryside full of friends.

Dee was preceded in death by her parents, Edmund and Rita Schindel; two sons: Brad and Gary Grams; two sisters, Marion Todd and Kathy Williams and her beloved dog Pepper.  

A Mass to celebrate her faith will begin at 10:30  a.m., Monday, October 19, 2020 at St. Gall Catholic Church, 43W885 Hughes Road, Elburn, IL 60119. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Aurora, IL.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations be sent in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter, 8430 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60631. Tributes may also be forwarded to the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.

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