Eileen Kaderavek

Eileen was born in 1926 and grew up on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Her mother was of Irish descent, and her father was of German descent, though she identified most strongly with her colorful extended family of Irish relatives. After attending high school in Chicago, Eileen took many diverse courses towards a bachelor's degree at De Paul University, The Art Institute of Chicago, and Northwestern University.

At 21, she began her long, diverse, and productive career as secretary, and later, executive secretary. Her work life in various cities complimented the career of her husband, renowned composer and multi-instrumentalist, and distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music, Milan Kaderavek.

From 1958-60, she was the Assistant Apparel Editor and Assistant to the Circulation Manager for Leading National Advertisers/Publishers Information Bureau, in Chicago. From 1960-65 she was Secretary to Psychologist, Charles E Osgood, Institute of Communications Research; and to the Dean of College of Education (Council on Teacher Education), at the University of Illinois, Urbana. From 1967-70, Eileen was Supervisor of Secretarial Service; Secretary to the Director of Admissions; and Assistant to the Dean of Library Science, at Rosary College, River Forest, Illinois. During 1970, she was Personal Secretary to the City Manager (mayor) of the Village of Oak Park, Illinois. From 1971-72, she was Public Relations Secretary and College Hostess at Concordia Teachers' College, River Forest, Illinois. From 1974-79, Eileen was the personal secretary to four administrators at the Central Iowa Crime Commission. From 1979-83, she was the Executive Secretary at Temple B'nai Jeshurun, Des Moines, Iowa. And from 1984-88, she was Executive Director of the Women's Chamber Alliance, Des Moines, Iowa.

On November 19th 2021, Eileen Kaderavek passed away in Pensacola, Florida, at the age of 94, three weeks shy of her 95th birthday. She was in remarkably good health for her age, and suffered no major illness at the time of death. She did have several age-related afflictions, mainly vision impairment, imbalance and dizziness, generalized weakness, and periodic confusion due to dementia, which lead to a number of serious falls, particularly in the last months of her life. Ten days before her move to Pensacola, her Ohio doctor of many years notified the family that a tumor with visually suspected cancerous cells had recently been discovered on her liver. However, she did not live long enough for the seriousness of that to be further tested, or treated.

Eileen is survived by her son David Kaderavek and daughter-in-law Joan of Pensacola, Florida; her daughter Karen Kaderavek and son-in-law Stephen Orlov of Sutton, Quebec, Canada; her granddaughter Megan Tsai, grandson-in-law Dr Ben Tsai, great-granddaughter Natalie and great-grandson Eliot of Indianapolis; and her grandson Brian Kaderavek and granddaughter-in-law Amanda Miller of Pensacola.

Eileen was intelligent, encouraging of others, sensitive, loyal, a lover of the arts - music in particular - and modest. Her devoted 64-year marriage to Milan was the bedrock of her life, and shaped much of the structure and poetry of it. Her family and friends were blessed to have known her. She continues to be dearly missed.

Nov. 19, 2022 - 1st Anniversary of Eileen's Passing