Reta M Enders

Reta M. Enders, 99, of Hinsdale, a former longtime Elmhurst resident, passed away on July 10, 2020.  

Reta was born in 1921 to Raymond Parkhurst and Eva Woolley Parkhurst, who named her Reta Mae, and her twin, Leta Rae.  They were the fifth and sixth of seven children and grew up in Oswego, Illinois. 

She met her husband, Emil M. Enders (deceased 2010), at a roller rink in Plainfield, IL and they were married in 1941.  Emil enlisted in the Army Air Corps and together they fought the battle of Texas, moving frequently, and were stationed in Las Vegas, NV at the end of WWII.  They returned to Chicago and built a home in Elmhurst, where they raised three children, Donna Charlesworth (Kent), Randall (Karen), and Kimberly.  Emil was the comptroller of Life Newspapers and Reta worked in sales for Marshall Fields in Oak Brook.  After their retirement in 1983, Reta and Emil moved to Keowee Key, SC, and later to Clemson, SC, where they were founding members of Eternal Shepard Lutheran Church.  In 2011, Reta returned to Illinois to be with family and lived in Hinsdale and Lombard.  

Reta was an avid reader and enjoyed bridge, flower gardens, and birds.  Most of all she loved her cats, Fred and Lucy, and dogs, poodles, Airedale Terriers, and Megyn, her Welsh Terrier.

In addition to her children, she is survived by her grandchildren, Brian Charlesworth, Randall Enders (Michelle), Kristin Timmons (Timothy), Matthew Enders (Amie), Daniel Charlesworth, Andrew Charlesworth, Jay Pranger (Rebecca) and Harley Pranger (Rosalia), and her great-grandchildren, Ethan, Jayce, Jayden, Addison, Mattie, Aubrey, Luke, Arlen, and Cara.  She is also preceded in death by her siblings, Sarah, Floyd, Everett, Alberta, Leta, and Emily, and by her grandson, Mark Enders.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 18, 2020, at 11 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 139 E. First Street, Hinsdale, IL.  The family will receive friends immediately before the service at the church, commencing at 10 a.m., and at a luncheon following the service.  Interment will be in the columbarium in the church garden at Eternal Shepard Lutheran Church at a later date.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Little Lambs Preschool, Eternal Shepard Lutheran Church, 220 Carson Road, Seneca, SC 29678, or to the charity of your choosing.

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