Vera Wiater

Vera Frances Wiater, nee Adrian, born August 10th, 1936, to Carl and Hilda (nee Standing) Adrian in Chicago, IL. She passed away peacefully at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights on January 9th, 2026.

Vera was a graduate of Austin High School class of 1954 and attended the University of Wisconsin for one year. She married in 1958 and devoted her life to family and friends.

Vera had smile that lit up the room as soon as she entered and she was a very social person who made friends easily.

Early in life Vera enjoyed being active, learning to bowl, golf, as well as snow ski and water ski. She was a long time and active member of The Northwest Circle of Friends (The Welcome Wagon) where she loved to play cards, Mah Jong and attend luncheons.

Her interest in singing led her to join the Harper Community College Concert Choir, where participation in the annual holiday concert became one of her favorite holiday events.

Vera was also a member of the Buehler YMCA for a half-century. She remained active throughout her life and made many friends during aerobic exercise and more recently Tai Chi classes.

Vera was the key to keeping strong family ties with cousins, aunts and uncles in Denmark, England and Italy. She had a strong passion for travel early in her life and Vera was influential in generating a passion for travel with her husband and children. Vera traveled to more than forty countries with her husband, during their marriage.

She is survived by her sweetheart and husband of 68 years Kenneth, daughters Linda Wiater, Lorraine (Mark) Stechman, Julie Wiater Ransel (Jeffrey), grandson Spencer and was predeceased by her brother Carl.

She will be missed by all whose lives she touched.

Visitation Friday, January 16, 2026, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home 185 E. Northwest Highway, Palatine, IL. Lying in state Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Family Church 2515 W. Palatine Rd, Inverness, IL. Interment St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Palatine, IL

In lieu of flowers, and at Vera's request, please consider making a donation in her name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude’s Place Memphis, TN 38105 stjude.org/donatetoday 1-800-608-8795.

For funeral info call 847-359-8020 or go to www.smithcorcoran.com.