Gerda Maria Weidinger

Gerda Maria Weidinger passed away peacefully in an assisted living community in Burke, Virginia, on June 22, 2025.
Born on June 3, 1940, in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Germany, Gerda was the youngest of four surviving children of Rudolf and Ottilie Weintz. Her mother raised the young family alone, managing on a small military widow's pension and her earnings from cleaning doctors' offices at night. In school Gerda studied to become a beautician and apprenticed near home before emigrating to the US at age 20.
Gerda met her future husband Werner Weidinger ten days after arriving in the Chicago suburb of Skokie. The couple married in 1962 and later settled in nearby Wilmette, where they raised two sons-Mark born in 1963 and Mathew born in 1967. With the help of frequent visits from her mother, Gerda continued working as a beautician in a small beauty shop in their home's basement, in a career that ultimately spanned six decades. Always focused on providing her family a better life, her hard work and devotion allowed the boys to attend Catholic elementary and high school and the University of Illinois and Georgetown University, respectively.
A devoted member of St. Joseph's parish for over 60 years, Gerda made treasured memories when she and Werner chaperoned boys choir trips to Philadelphia and Vienna, accompanying the late pastor Monsignor Charles Meter and other lifelong friends. She loved travel and the outdoors. The family camped throughout the US and Canada in their orange VW van and frequently returned to Germany to visit family and friends. In their later years, Gerda and Werner enjoyed Caribbean cruises and Mexican vacations. They delighted in having their grandchildren visit them, when "Oma's" talents as an extraordinary German chef and baker were on full display.
In February 2012, the couple proudly celebrated 50 years of marriage, the last of which were marked by Gerda's loving care for Werner, who predeceased her in December 2012. In recent years, Gerda continued to serve longtime friends and customers in her beauty shop past age 80, was an active resident of Mather Place retirement community in Wilmette, and made frequent visits to her family in Virginia.
Grandmother of ten and great grandmother of nine, she and Werner attended every first communion of their eight grandchildren in Virginia, and she later rejoiced in dancing at three of their weddings as well.
A memorial mass will be held at
Church of the Nativity Burke, Virginia Wednesday, July 9th at 9:00 am (Note: The mass will be held in the chapel accessed through the school entrance)
A funeral mass will be held at
St. Joseph's Catholic Church Wilmette, Illinois Friday, August 22 at 11:00 am.
Interment will follow at 1:00 pm at Fort Sheridan National Cemetery in Lake Bluff, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saints JFX Catholic School, 1740 Lake Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.