Heidi Grieder

Heidi Grieder (nee Welti), 94, was born in Zürich, Switzerland, on October 16, 1928, to Hans and Mathilde Welti. She was the eldest of six children. During her childhood she enjoyed many family activities, including hiking, swimming, skating, and singing and playing music together. In Zürich Heidi met her beloved husband, John Grieder (d. May 9, 2019), in the church youth group, and married on July 18, 1951, enjoying 67+ years of love and devotion. Their first two children, Rosmarie (Rosie) and Felix were both born in Zürich, Switzerland, in 1952 and 1953, respectively. In 1955 Heidi immigrated to Chicago, IL, USA with her husband and their two young children. Their third child, Peter, was born in Illinois in 1961. In 1965 the family moved to the LaGrange/Western Springs area, where they resided for over 50 years. With Rosie and Tom caring for Heidi she spent 4 years in their Downers Grove home and most recently several months at Oak Trace Health Care Center. 

Heidi was the loving mother of Rosie (Tom) Roose of Downers Grove, IL, Felix (Donna) of San Antonio, Texas, and Peter (Pam) Grieder of Dallas, Texas. She is the fond grandmother of 12 and great grandmother of 24. She has one surviving sister and one surviving brother in Switzerland, and many surviving nieces and nephews in both Switzerland and the United States. 

Throughout Heidi’s childhood and young adult years, her family resided in the Zürich area, where her father ran a photo business. Graduating with a business degree, Heidi enjoyed working in the family photo business. Heidi’s family strongly valued their Christian faith, the power of a daily prayer life, being a good neighbor to all people, and spending quality time together. These values were an essential part of Heidi’s life that she has transmitted to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Heidi was a committed Christian, who lived her faith through devotion and service to others. While in the LaGrange/Western Springs area, Heidi continued to serve others as Office Secretary at the LaGrange First United Methodist Church, performing administrative tasks and by greeting and welcoming all who entered the church each Sunday. Heidi utilized her musical talents in the church bell choir and as pianist at the early service. For over 60 years Heidi was involved in the United Methodist Women in leadership roles locally and district wide. She regularly participated in the Adult Sunday School Kee Class. Heidi was a 50+ year member of P.E.O. Her faith and prayer life deepened through the years with participation in Christian study groups, e.g., the Young at Heart and others, throughout the Chicagoland area. Along with her husband John, as Jesus instructed us, they were a “good neighbor” to many.

Heidi dearly loved her three children, their spouses, grandchildren, great grandchildren, siblings, cousins and many nieces and nephews. She enjoyed spending time with them, including singing, playing the piano, playing games, attending family events, sharing many Swiss traditions, and traveling together, especially to Switzerland to see family. Heidi enjoyed keeping connections with other Swiss people while in the US with her involvement in the Swiss Benevolent Society. She was an excellent seamstress, talented in needlepoint, knitting and could cook and entertain large numbers of people. Heidi’s focus throughout her life was on her faith, family and caring for others. 

For several weeks preceding her death, family and friends shared special times of prayer, scripture, music, visits with Heidi at Oak Trace until God called her to his Eternal Home on October 14, 2023. 

A visitation will be held on Friday October 27, 2023 from 5pm to 8pm at Adolf & Powell Funeral Home, 7000 S Madison St, Willowbrook, IL 60527. Family and friends will meet on Saturday October 28, 2023 for a 2:30pm funeral service at First United Methodist Church of Lagrange, 100 West Cossitt Ave, LaGrange, IL 60525. Please use the parking lot at the Cossit Ave School, which is directly across from the church for the time of the service.  Parking is behind the school. Interment Private

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to First United Methodist Church of La Grange 100 West Cossitt Avenue, LaGrange, Illinois 60525 www.fumclg.org  708.352.1250

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