Eileen Denardi

Eileen Mary Denardi, age 73 years, mother, grandmother, traveler, and always a proper lady died peacefully at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2020 with family at her bedside at the home of her son in Niles, Michigan.  Her family is grateful for the compassionate and skilled care provided by the staff of Caring Circle Hospice at Home.

She was born on March 11, 1946 in Belmar, New Jersey to Matthew and Julia (Smith) Ward.  She was graduated from Saint Rose High School in Belmar, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Monmouth College (now University), West Long Branch, New Jersey.  While her intention was teaching, she soon found a home working in local insurance agencies, and did so as her family moved about the country including Ohio and Kansas City, where she also served as a real estate agent.  As her health declined, she lived with her daughter in South Carolina for a while, and moved to Niles last year.

Eileen was raised in the Catholic Church, and retained that faith through all the changes in her life.  She enjoyed travelling, and had toured most of the United States as a pleasant benefit of visiting distant family and relatives.  She was quite pleased to cheer for the Kansas City Chiefs as they won the Superbowl less than a week ago.

She dressed and spoke in a polite and respectful manner that encouraged those around her to respond in the same manner.  That respect was also so courteous that she was readily approachable, and made friends wherever she went.  Perhaps having a bit of an alter-ego, she enjoyed the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, Louisiana, and made several return trips for that event.

In September of 1965 in Belmar she married S. Anthony Denardi with whom she celebrated the thirty-fourth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death in 1999.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, and by five of her siblings – all older than her.

Surviving family includes her children, Tony Denardi of Niles and Patricia (& Buddy) Pondick of Charleston, South Carolina; grandchildren Nicholas Denardi, Austin Friedman, Malory Pondick, Michael Pondick, Gregory Pondick, Cami Simon, and Shea Simon; Eileen’s brother Joseph Ward, and by many, many nieces and nephews.

The Memorial Service for Eileen Denardi will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2020 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles with Pastor Robert Baird of Prairie Gardens Christian Church in New Carlisle, Indiana officiating.

Contributions in memory of Eileen may be made to Caring Circle Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, Saint Joseph, Michigan, 49085, https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/caring-circle/hospice-at-home-cares/hospice-at-home-cares . Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Eileen combined family and faith, career and class, with travel and fun to complete a life well-lived and worthy of the love and fond memories of her family and friends.