Lenore J. Desmond

Lenore J. Desmond, nee Peters, age 91, of Schererville, IN, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Beloved wife of the late Clinton John Desmond. Loving mother of Laura (late Marylyn Grabosky) Desmond and Clinton (Erin) Desmond. Constant companion to Peaches the cat. Preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Laura Peters and her sisters Lorraine Agee and Shirlee (late Floyd) Peer.

A modern woman ahead of her time, Lenore was a certified nursing assistant and was a primary assistant to a surgeon’s group in her 20’s, while being a devoted wife to her husband, Clinton.

She had children later in life. She encouraged Laura to be everything she could be and cheered her on as she built a successful career in advertising and technology. Her son, Clinton John II, a Professor of Music at Dakota Wesleyan, credits Lenore with supporting his interest in music and theatre.

Lenore fiercely loved her children, husband, family and her community. Her commitment to charity and volunteer work led to her being a 20 year President of the Women’s Guild at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Lenox, an epic crafts maker and baker, often making thousands of cookies herself for church fundraisers. While her children were in elementary school, she often held the title of head room mother and PTO President where she organized celebrations and helped decorate classrooms, plan activities, and craft and bake for all the children in the class. She was also devoted to her cat, Peaches who she adopted at the Schererville Animal Shelter in 2013.

Lenore was an accomplished cook and liked nothing better than to make meals for her family on Sundays and for all holidays. Her menus varied from homemade lasagna and ravioli to pot roast and ribs. She was a professional cake decorator and her famous baked goods included coconut cream pie, lemon meringue pie, and Coca-Cola cake. There was nothing she couldn’t do in a kitchen and relished every moment of doing things for her family and friends.

Funeral service Tuesday, December 30, 2025 10:00 a.m. at Chapel of the Resurrection on the campus of Valparaiso University, 1600 Chapel Dr, Valparaiso, IN. Interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery-Elwood, IL. An additional celebration of life service will take place at a later date. Memorial contributions may be given to Schererville Animal Shelter (548 Kaeser Blvd, Schererville, IN) or the American Cancer Society (P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD).

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