M. Eleanor Kuntz

Mildred Eleanor Kuntz, 74, of Kankakee, died today (March 16, 2009) at Riverside Medical Center. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Teresa Catholic Church.Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family wishes.If there ever was an epitome for the word mother, that would be Eleanor Kuntz. Proof of this is her excellent upbringing of 10 children, together with Gerald Kuntz. Her nurturing ways and enormous capacity to love has sparkled through her very existence. Her unparalleled devotion to her family is equaled only by her service to the church, the community, and the religion through which she has lived as a shining example of God's faithful daughter. She will be thoroughly missed.Mrs. Kuntz was a teacher's aide in the Bright Beginnings Program at Mark Twain School, school secretary and actively involved in the school's PTA for which she was recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education in 1976 with an Award for Education Excellence. Mrs. Kuntz was also an active member of St. Teresa Catholic Church as a lector coordinator, Eucharistic minister, reader, English as a Second Language (ESL) tutor, CCD teacher, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) leader, and CCW (Council of Catholic Women) board member.She enthusiastically supported her children through many seasons and thousands of sporting events at Kankakee Jaycees Little League, Elks PONY League, Eastside Bulldogs Football, Eastridge High School and Bishop McNamara Catholic High School.Surviving are her husband of 56 years, Gerald E. Kuntz Sr.; nine sons and one daughter, Frank Edward and Olivia of Las Vegas, Gerald Jr. and Marla of Bourbonnais, John of Poulsbo, Wash., Joseph and Renee of San Antonio, Texas, Thomas and Maureen of Aurora, Phillip and Kathy of Fishers, Ind., Matthew and Lisa of Western Springs, Lt. Col. Patrick and Renata of Heidelberg, Germany, Michael and Sandy of St. Anne, and Mary Katherine and Douglas Jones of Kankakee.Surviving besides her 10 children are 26 grandchildren, Brad, Jill, Kellie, Keith, Sarah, Aaron, Sammy, Abigail, Elizabeth, Tommy, Kevin, Brian, Ryan, Clay, Rebecca, Joshua, Alexander, Austin, Matthew, Andrew, William, Jake, Ben, Camille, Graham, and Landon; two great-grandchildren, Grant and Delaney; brother, Joseph Russell of Houston, Texas; and sister-in-law, Blanche Russell of Houston.Deceased are her parents, Robert and Mildred Bly Russell; three brothers, Robert Russell Jr., Richard "Dick" Russell, John Russell; and daughter-in-law, Catherine F. Kuntz.Her life's devotion was to a compassionate belief in God, her faithful volunteerism to St. Teresa Catholic Church and Mark Twain School and her tireless dedication to raising her family. She loved all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren dearly. She volunteered enthusiastically to any meaningful cause or person in need. Eleanor was passionate about helping the children in the Bright Beginnings Program at Mark Twain get a good start on learning. One of her students presented her with a certificate in 1999 for Best Teacher of the Year -- a thank-you for providing inspiration and guidance to young children, something she excelled at her entire life.

M. Eleanor Kuntz

February 14, 1935 - March 16, 2009