Denise Ann "Dee" Mennel's Obituary
Decatur – Denise Ann (“Dee”) Mennel, 77, of Decatur, passed away Sunday, December 16, 2018, in Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Dee was born August 13, 1941, in Decatur, the daughter of Leo and Margaret Reinhart. Contrary to popular belief, Dee was not born talking, but once she started she rarely took a breath. Dee was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, a place which provided a spiritual home for her and her family. Dee and her beloved husband of 55 years, Gene, loved to travel. Together they visited 85 countries and all seven continents. She loved to bore her friends with pictures of her travels and stories about penguin droppings in Antarctica (she thought that was funny) and the smell of the camels in Egypt (she wasn’t a fan). Dee had an active social network at church, in her neighborhood, in the Knights of Columbus and through her alma mater, St. Teresa High School. Basically, if there was a social gathering, Dee wanted to be there. Dee loved her many friends who were so kind and supportive of her and her family over the years and especially since she has been ill.
She is survived by a family that loved her dearly and will miss her greatly – though not necessarily her cooking. She leaves her husband, Gene, and three children, Eric of Chicago, Julia Cheatham of Atlanta and Peggy of Decatur, her son-in-law, Doyle Cheatham and beloved grandchildren, Ben and Jack.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 20 from 5-8 p.m. at Moran & Goebel Funeral Home; vigil prayer service will be at 4:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, December 21, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 3850 Lourdes Drive, in Decatur. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery in Decatur. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
The Mennel family is being served by the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home, 2801 N. Monroe St, Decatur, IL 62526. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.moranandgoebel.com.
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