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Eleanor Helen Wiater
 

Memorial for Eleanor Helen Wiater

Born in McHenry, Illinois on Nov. 27, 1920
Departed on Jan. 10, 2013 and resided in Rolling Hills, CA.
Visitation: Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013
Rosary & Funeral Mass: Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 & Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013
Cemetery: All Souls Catholic Cemetery
Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.

  
Eleanor Helen Althoff Wiater
Died peacefully at home in Rolling Hills, CA, on Thursday, January 10, 2013 from congestive heart failure. A longtime resident of Southern California, Eleanor Wiater was born on November 27, 1920 in McHenry, Illinois to William Henry and Eleanora Althoff, both now deceased. She graduated from McHenry High School in 1938. Eleanor was active in sports, playing varsity basketball, softball, and tennis. She won the 1938 Championship in tennis for her school. She then went on to complete her degree as a registered nurse in 1941 from Saint Therese School of Nursing in Waukegan, Illinois. In March 1943, Eleanor entered into the Army Nurse Corps. Her colleagues began calling her "Tess" and she used that nickname ever after. She served overseas in North Africa during World War II. There she contracted tuberculosis and upon her return in 1944 she recuperated at Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver, Colorado. She was given an honorable discharge for medical reasons. It was in Denver that Tess met her future husband, Captain Edward Joseph Wiater, MD. During World War II he served as a general duty medical officer and flight surgeon with the USAAF 1942-46 in the Western Flight Training Command. Tess and Ed were married on July 15, 1944 at La Junta Army Airfield near La Junta, Colorado. After Ed was discharged from the army air force Dr. and Mrs. Wiater lived in various places while he completed his orthopedic residencies. In 1950, they moved to Long Beach, CA and bought a home in Lakewood. In addition to raising three children, Tess was active in the school health program in St. Cyprian Catholic School in Lakewood. In 1954, the Wiaters purchased property in Rolling Hills and moved their family to the home they built in 1955. Through the years, Tess did administrative work in her husband's Long Beach orthopedic medical office. She also gave countless hours of volunteer time to Holy Trinity Catholic Church in San Pedro, St. Mary Medical Center Guild, the medical auxiliaries, and the Right to Life League of Southern California. She was a founding board member of the Harbor Regional Center and STAR, Inc. (Society To Aid Retarded) in Torrance. Tess and Ed were founding members of the Jack Kramer Tennis Club in Rolling Hills Estates. Tess enjoyed many years of tennis and was a nationally ranked senior competitor. She also enjoyed playing golf with her husband in Lake Arrowhead Country Club where they had a second home. Tess and Ed were married for 60 years before he passed away in 2004. They are survived by a daughter, Hon. Judith Brennan (m. James) of Norwalk, CA; two sons, E. Joseph Wiater Jr. of Torrance, CA. and James William Wiater of Los Angeles, CA; five grandchildren: James Edward Brennan III (m. Karen), Theresa Marji, Esq. (m. Tariq), Maureen Rubin, Esq. (m. Michael), Susan Hickok (m. Thomas); and Michael Wiater; five great granddaughters: Nora Brennan Marji, Dalayna Marie Marji, Caterina Sienna Marji, Abigail Marguerite Marji, and Kaitlyn Brennan; five great grandsons: Jason Edward Brennan, Nathan Andrew Brennan, Ryan Josef Rubin, Brady Robert Rubin, and Gabriel Tariq Marji. Her siblings, Ethel Althoff Conway, Elizabeth Althoff Phelan, James Louis Althoff, all of McHenry, Illinois preceded Tess in death. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, 6:00 p.m. followed by a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Both the visitation and Vigil Service will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in San Pedro. A Funeral Mass will be offered on Wednesday, January 16, 2013, 9:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church followed by interment at All Souls Cemetery in Long Beach.
  

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