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planted in memory of Virginia L. Duesterberg
Obituary for Virginia L. Duesterberg
Obituary for Virginia L. “Pinkie” Duesterberg
Virginia Leona (Pinkie) Duesterberg passed away peacefully on December 24, 2019, at an extended care facility in St. Louis after a long illness. She enjoyed a long and happy life devoted to her family, her faith and her community. Pinkie was born in Vincennes, Indiana on February 18, 1924, to Peter A. and Marie (Schmidt) Dora. She spent nearly her entire life in Vincennes
before moving to a retirement community in St. Louis in 2008. She graduated from St. Rose Academy in 1941, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana in 1945. She then worked as a medical technician in Battle Creek, Michigan and at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes. In 1947 Pinkie married William F. (Bill) Duesterberg, the long time proprietor of Duesterberg Drug Stores and Kate’s Hallmark House, where she served as Vice President. In later life Pinkie enjoyed being with family at her vacation home in Holland, MI, an area along Lake Michigan she first fell in love with while a student at St. Mary’s. Pinkie was active in her community throughout her life and a strong supporter of the Catholic school system, which educated all of her children, each of whom earned a college degree. She was co-founder of the Christian Education Foundation to support Vincennes’ Catholic schools. She was honored as the outstanding Catholic Alumnus in 1982. She was also an active volunteer for the Red Cross and served as a poll watcher
throughout her life.
She was the mother of eight children: William G. (Gary) Duesterberg (Adora Ku), of Brentwood California; Thomas J. Duesterberg (Susan Cooper) of Washington, DC; Richard L. Duesterberg (Ann) of Lakewood, CO; Mary D. Pandjiris of St. Louis, MO; Kathleen A. Duesterberg (Will Allen) of Fairlee, VT; Daniel J. Duesterberg (deceased in 1995); Jane E. Duesterberg of Evansville, IN; and David A. Duesterberg (Marjorie) of Holland, MI. She also had 12 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
Pinkie was preceded in death by her husband Bill (2008), a son Daniel, her parents Peter A. and Marie (Schmidt) Dora and by her three brothers Richard, Robert and James Dora,
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday January 25, 2020 at 10:00 AM at St. John Catholic Church with Fr. Tony Ernst officiating. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Bill and her son Daniel in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday January 24. 2020 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home. Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home is honored to serve the Duesterberg family during their time of loss.
The Duesterberg family wants to thank the Parc Provence memory care facility in Creve Coeur, MO, for the loving care of their mother since 2015. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be directed to the Christian Education Foundation, 229 Church Street, Vincennes, IN 47591; the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Rocky Mountain Chapter, 400 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 810, Denver, CO 80246; or the Daniel J. Duesterberg Scholarship Fund, ℅ Department of Economics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405.
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Virginia Leona (Pinkie) Duesterberg passed away peacefully on December 24, 2019, at an extended care facility in St. Louis after a long illness. She enjoyed a long and happy life devoted to her family, her faith and her community. Pinkie was born in Vincennes, Indiana on February 18, 1924, to Peter A. and Marie (Schmidt) Dora. She spent nearly her entire life in Vincennes
before moving to a retirement community in St. Louis in 2008. She graduated from St. Rose Academy in 1941, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana in 1945. She then worked as a medical technician in Battle Creek, Michigan and at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes. In 1947 Pinkie married William F. (Bill) Duesterberg, the long time proprietor of Duesterberg Drug Stores and Kate’s Hallmark House, where she served as Vice President. In later life Pinkie enjoyed being with family at her vacation home in Holland, MI, an area along Lake Michigan she first fell in love with while a student at St. Mary’s. Pinkie was active in her community throughout her life and a strong supporter of the Catholic school system, which educated all of her children, each of whom earned a college degree. She was co-founder of the Christian Education Foundation to support Vincennes’ Catholic schools. She was honored as the outstanding Catholic Alumnus in 1982. She was also an active volunteer for the Red Cross and served as a poll watcher
throughout her life.
She was the mother of eight children: William G. (Gary) Duesterberg (Adora Ku), of Brentwood California; Thomas J. Duesterberg (Susan Cooper) of Washington, DC; Richard L. Duesterberg (Ann) of Lakewood, CO; Mary D. Pandjiris of St. Louis, MO; Kathleen A. Duesterberg (Will Allen) of Fairlee, VT; Daniel J. Duesterberg (deceased in 1995); Jane E. Duesterberg of Evansville, IN; and David A. Duesterberg (Marjorie) of Holland, MI. She also had 12 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
Pinkie was preceded in death by her husband Bill (2008), a son Daniel, her parents Peter A. and Marie (Schmidt) Dora and by her three brothers Richard, Robert and James Dora,
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday January 25, 2020 at 10:00 AM at St. John Catholic Church with Fr. Tony Ernst officiating. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Bill and her son Daniel in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday January 24. 2020 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home. Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home is honored to serve the Duesterberg family during their time of loss.
The Duesterberg family wants to thank the Parc Provence memory care facility in Creve Coeur, MO, for the loving care of their mother since 2015. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be directed to the Christian Education Foundation, 229 Church Street, Vincennes, IN 47591; the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Rocky Mountain Chapter, 400 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 810, Denver, CO 80246; or the Daniel J. Duesterberg Scholarship Fund, ℅ Department of Economics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405.
To plant a tree in memory of Virginia L. Duesterberg, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Friday
24
Jan
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Duesterberg-Fredrick
521 Vigo Street
Vincennes, IN 47591
Funeral Mass
Saturday
25
Jan
10:00 AM
St. John Catholic Church
803 Main St.
Vincennes, IN 47591
Cemetery Details
Location
Mt. Calvary Cemetery
Willow St.
Vincennes, IN 47591
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