Verene Heldorfer, 99, of Breese, died Friday, May 1, 2009 at Caring First Nursing Home in Breese. She was born March 13, 1910 in Breese, IL, daughter of John and Margaret (Lager) Strubhart. She married Milton Von Gerichten in 1942 and he preceded her in death in 1951. She married Joseph George Heldorfer in 1954 and he preceded her in death on February 5, 2002.

She is survived by two daughters, Paula Von Gerichten of Barrington, IL and Helene Heldorfer and husband Ron Repp of Joliet, IL.

In addition to her husbands and parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Muriel Swango.

Mrs. Heldorfer was the business manager at Mater Dei High School in Breese and retired in 1984. She was a graduate of Carlyle High School and Brown’s Business College in St. Louis, MO. She was a member of St. Dominic Parish where she was a lector and past president and member of the Altar Sodality; vice president of the Diocesan School Board in Belleville and she was a reader at All Saints Academy. Verene was past president of the Mater Dei Mothers and Friends Club; was a member of the Mater Dei Knight Club and was inducted into the Mater Dei Hall of Honor in 1998. She was also a member of the American Legion Post 252 Auxiliary and a former chairman of Homemakers Breese Nite.

A funeral mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2009 at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese with Rev. Patrick Peter officiating. Burial will follow at St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery in Breese.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday, May 3, 2009 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2009 at Hempen Funeral Home in Breese. The American Legion Auxiliary will visit the funeral home at 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Memorials may be made to St. Dominic Parish or the Mater Dei Foundation and will be received at the funeral home.