Obituary for Ann Ada Henderson
<span>Ann Ada Henderson, 89, died August 8, 2015 following a severe </span>stroke a week earlier. While she ultimately succumbed to complications, she was alert many times and knew her family was at her side.
She is survived by her children Gordon, Lois (Avci) and Wayne, of Hinsdale, Bozeman and Roscoe respectively. She enjoyed four granddaughters: Leyla and Derya Avci in Bozeman, as well as Kerri Henderson and Erika Emanuel (nee Henderson).
Ann was additionally blessed to know her two great-grandsons: Leyla's son Eren Avci, and Andrew Emanuel, son of Erika and Justin Emanuel of Rockford.
Sadly, Eren preceded Ann in death in May 2015. Andrew is happily expecting a sibling in February 2016.
Ann was born near Canyon, TX but at age 2 her parents Henry and Elizabeth Krull returned with her to Chester. She graduated from Chester High School and attended the University of Illinois with help from a local scholarship.
She was the first woman to win the "outstanding freshman in Chemistry" award and graduated with a BS degree. She took a year off from her studies to work in the labs at Monsanto in East St. Louis, supporting the war effort, and worked there again after graduating.
She met W. Ernest Henderson while in school in Champaign, and they married in 1949 after he graduated.
They moved to Ann Arbor where he earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering before going to work for a company that became part of Union Carbide.
They lived in Lockport before building a home in Willowbrook, where they raised a family. Ernest preceded Ann in death on April 15, 1982.
Ann moved to Westmont in 1988 and to LaGrange Park in 2011. Ann enjoyed a range of hobbies including gardening, travel and photography, and genealogy.
Her genealogical research was extensive and she wrote a Henderson family history.
Services will be held Friday, August 14 at Bronswood Cemetery, 3805 Madison Street, Oak Brook.
Arrangements by Sullivan Funeral Home, Hinsdale, 630-323-0275 or www.sullivanfuneralhomehinsdale.com.