Date of Birth
Apr 27,1926
Date of Death
Feb 21,2015
LOANE Lou Drendel, age88, of Elburn, passed away following a prolonged battle with various respiratory ailments at Greenfields of Geneva, where she recently made her home, on Saturday, February 21, 2015. She was born on April 27, 1926, in Aurora, IL, the daughter of Charles S. and Lillian S. (Walgren) Handell. She grew up in Aurora and at age 3, was entered in the VFW Popular Baby of Kane County Contest. To no ones surprise, she won hands down. Lou attended local schools and graduated from East Aurora High School with the class of 1945. Lou and Martin Drendel met on a blind date in Naperville at a dance where Martin waltzed away with her heart. It wasn’t long before they got to dance together again, this time as man and wife, when they were married on May 22, 1948, at S.S. Peter & Paul Church, Naperville. They began their new life together in Naperville for two years before moving to Bristol, IL. Later they lived in Newark before settling in Sugar Grove for many years. In 1989 they moved to Elburn and continued to make memories and new friends with every turn. Lou was a faithful member of St. Gall Catholic Church and enjoyed her two golf leagues. Lou had an indomitable will and a wit that was so fast and sharp that many had trouble just keeping up. She met no strangers in her life, everyone was an instant friend. Her family was the most important thing in her life and made sure her love would be passed down in a tangible way by knitting dozens of full and baby sized afghans for her family and friends. Lou looked forward to her winter golf trips to The Villages in Florida and any time she could pull the arm on a slot machine was the right time. Each month for over 50 years, Lou and Martin played in their Naperville Pitch Club. She is survived by her loving husband Martin Drendel,Four children: Ralph (Paula) Drendel, Lee (Deborah) Drendel, Dawn (John) Neubauer and Marybeth (John) Althoff;Twelve grandchildren: Kimmi (Joey Krupicka) Drendel, Andy Drendel, Kelsey (Brandon Mueller) Drendel, Jackie (Brian) Edlund and their children: Andrew and Frank;Aly (Matt) Ruggie, Lisa Young and her daughter, Jamie;Brad Neubauer, Stacey Neubauer, Ashley Neubauer, Chris Althoff, Kevin Althoff, Pat Althoff and a large family of nieces and nephews. She is preceded by her parents, Charles S. and Lillian S. Handell, and her brother Chuck Handell.Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m., Wednesday, February 25, 2015, at St. Gall Catholic Church, Elburn, IL. A mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Thursday, February 26 also at St. Gall Catholic Church, with a time of visitation from 9-9:45 a.m. Fr. Tim Seigel, pastor of the church, will officiate with interment to follow at St. Gall Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Lou’s name to benefit her favorite charities including The Elburn Lions Club, Kaneland Athletics, St. Gall CCD and Decatur St. Teresa High School. Checks may be made to the Loane Drendel Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com.