Dorothea Elinor Chaveriat

Dorothea Elinor Chaveriat, age 92, a beloved member of the Chicago

community and First Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church passed away in her home

on March 1, 2024.

Nicknamed “Percy” by her parents, she was born on March 17, 1931 in

Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Rev. Walther and Martha Eissfeldt. Her

father was a Lutheran minister, and her mother was a “pastor’s wife.” She was the second of four children.

Dorothea would have been married 70 years come June and is leaving behind her husband, John, the love of her life. Her legacy will be cherished by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

Dorothea lived a life full of passion for service, family devotion, and a deep

love of the Lord. She graduated from Augustana School of Nursing, Chicago,

in September 1953 as class Vice-President. She started her caring career as a young nurse at Augustana Hospital, and later in her career, she worked as an RN at Columbus Hospital and a nursing home. She continued her service to others until she had difficulty caring for herself.

That included years of volunteer work at First Saint Paul’s, where she served

on the Mart-Martha Guild, cross bearer, and the Call Committee for Pastor

Johnson. She also went on medical mission trips to Central America. She

was “Volunteer of the Year” at Illinois Masonic Hospital, where she held and

cared for “crack-babies.”

Dorothea took delight in simple pleasures. She loved her pet dogs, reading

poetry, historical novels and biographies, singing hymns, the British

Monarchy, Bible study, and Christian education courses, hosting dinner

parties, attending Christian and classical concerts, folk music, enjoying a glass of red wine or dark chocolate, and skipping the occasional meal to have a full-on dessert.

The family was central to Dorothea's life. She treasured the special events she spent with her loved ones. In addition to her husband, John Chaveriat, Dorothea is survived by her children Paul Ford (1955), James Michael (1956) and wife Catherine, David Walther (1957) and wife Evelyn, Andrew John (1963) and Annette Louise (1968). Her grandchildren are Paul John Chaveriat, Brian David Chaveriat, Joy Lynn Long, Joshua John Marshall, Justin Robert Marshall, and Jordan Daniel Priddy. Not to forget the four great-grandchildren: Marley Marie Marshall (Joshua), Raegyn Mae Marshall (Joshua), Lennox Roe Marshall (Joshua), and her name’s sake - Dorothea Lynn Long (Joy).

Details about a Memorial Service will be forthcoming.