Susan Therese Eller
Dunn age 87 of Porter, Indiana, passed away on Saturday, February 18.
She was born in
Pittsburgh, PA, in October, 1929, to Arthur and Ruth (Roach) Eller.
Shortly after birth
she moved to Evansville, IN, and later moved with her family to Oak Park,
IL. She attended Oak Park-River Forest High School and Rosary College. She
worked in Chicago as an advertising sales representative for the Chicago
Tribune and also as a window dresser for Marshall Field’s department store.
Later she completed a bachelor of fine arts degree at Valparaiso University
and a Master’s of Science Degree in Education from Purdue University. She
worked as an art teacher at many Diocese of Gary schools including St.
Patrick, St. Paul, Nativity of Our Savior, and at Chesterton Montessori
School. Susan was an accomplished painter, sculpture, calligrapher and
portrait artist. One of her finest works was a life-size wire sculpture of a
fiddler which was purchased by Valparaiso University. In addition to
paintings on canvas, she particularly liked painting on driftwood that she
collected during morning walks on the beach. She created special
commissioned artwork for private buyers. She was particularly involved in
the Dunes area art scene and was very involved for many years in the annual
Chesterton Art Fair. Sue enjoyed playing bridge and loved playing the piano
with her signature piece being the “Bumble Boogie” by Jack Fina. During her
married life she was a resident of Ogden Dunes and Porter, IN, and Daytona
Beach, FL. She was an active parishioner of St. Patrick Catholic Church in
Chesterton and Our Lady of Lourdes in Daytona Beach, FL. She was
particularly devoted to St. Therese (The Little Flower) and the Divine
Mercy. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Kappa Sorority in addition to other
community organizations in Indiana and Florida.
Her greatest joys
in life were raising and supporting her two children, her family and her
faith. She passed on her love of art, music and her faith to her children.
She served as a Cub Scout den mother and leader of a Girl Scout troop. She
introduced her children to cross country skiing out at the Dunes State Park
and loved hiking, particularly near water. In her final years, her favorite
activity was to have her daughter drive her along the Indiana Dunes
lakefront so she could look across the lake to see the Chicago skyline. She
came into the world at the start of the Great Depression, lived to see the
Chicago Cubs win a World Series and passed on her enthusiasm for Chicago
sports to her children and grandchildren.
She was preceded in
death by her parents and sisters Anne (Bob) Turgi, Jeanne (Don) Sebesta and
her grandson Raymond Raffin. She is survived by her daughter Patricia
(Albert) Raffin of Porter, IN and her son, Raymond (Carolyn) Dunn, of
Greenwich, CT; grandchildren, Katherine (Michael), David, Christopher,
Madeleine, Mimi, Alex and Christopher; great grand child Alexandra, and many
beloved nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian
Burial will take place at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 638 N. Calumet Rd.
Chesterton, IN, 46304, at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, February 25, 2017, with
Reverend James Meade officiating. Burial will be at St. Patrick Catholic
Cemetery immediately following the Mass.
The family will
receive friends on Friday, February 24, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
at White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. 2nd St. Chesterton, Indiana, 46304.