Dorothy Marie Seaman Henke Gillespie

Dorothy Marie Seaman Henke Gillespie

West Lafayette - Dorothy Marie Seaman Henke Gillespie, 96, of West Lafayette, IN, passed away on December 30, 2020 at Westminster Village.

She was born to Richard Robert Seaman and Marie (nee Breyer) Seaman, October,1924, in Chicago, IL. Dorothy graduated from the Academy of Our Lady High School, Chicago, in 1943, and entered nurses' training at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, and Loyola University, Chicago, graduating with an RN and a BS in 1946.

She had a long and varied nursing career, serving in US Army Nurse Corps from 1943 to 1946; as a surgical nurse; a director of pediatric nursing; head nurse at Munster Med Inn in the mid-1970's; starting a school nursing program at St. Thomas Moore in Munster; and as a hospice nurse in the Calument Area from 1981-1987. Dorothy's civic mindedness kept her engaged in many projects. A survivor herself, Dorothy became an Open-Door support group coordinator for Y-Me National Breast Cancer through Munster Community Hospital from 1990 until 2012.

A member of Purdue University Chorus for many years, and the choirs at St. Thomas Moore and All Saints in Hammond, IN, song permeated everyday events and conversations with her family, revealing her playfulness and love of fun and laughter. An avid Chicago White Sox fan and foodie, Dorothy considered life's greatest joy to be her family. "Tell each other 'I love you' while you can".

She was married to Robert Henke from 1953 -1971, and later to Hilary Gillespie from 1982-1999. Dorothy was a resident of Munster, IN, for 60 years and moved to West Lafayette, IN, in 2017.

She is survived by her sister, Ruth Seaman Cain, and three children, Kathryn (Robert) Marie Henke Evans; Barbara (Stanley) Henke Felix; and Charles (Robin) Henke; beloved nieces and a nephew, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family thanks the staff at Westminster Village and ViaQuest Hospice for their compassionate care. Due to Covid-19 a private funeral will be held on Friday, January 8, 2021, at the Kish Funeral home in Munster, IN. Burial will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery in Evergreen Park, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Hospice of the Calumet Area or to the Share Foundation, Inc. (Rolling Prairie, IN) would be appreciated.