Virginia Mary (Vandemore) Wachtel

Virginia Mary Wachtel, 96, of Geneseo, passed away on Sunday, October 20, 2024, at Hammond Henry Hospital Long Term Care. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Geneseo, IL on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 10:30 AM. Father Daniel Gifford will officiate assisted by Deacon Thomas Wachtel her son. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Recitation of the rosary will be held prior to visitation at 4:30 PM. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 1, 2024, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel from 5-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Malachy Paraclete Fund, Henry County Right to Life, Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry, or Hammond Henry Hospital Long Term Care.

Virginia was born in Geneseo on September 22, 1928, the daughter of Alloyisous “Ollie” and Margaret (Andrews) Vandemore She graduated from Geneseo High School in 1946. She married her husband, James R. “Jamie” Wachtel on June 25, 1947, at St. Malachy Catholic Church. He precedes her in death. Virginia worked as a secretary for her husband’s Prudential Insurance Agency. She was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society Circle #9, DAR, and the Hammond Henry Auxiliary. Virginia collected cookbooks and loved collecting bunny rabbits. She was a proud supporter of the Geneseo Green Machine Football Team for several years and an avid Green Bay Packers fan. She was very devoted to her husband’s business and always made time to spend with her family.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sons, Dr. Thomas Wachtel of Geneseo, IL, Robert (Mary) Wachtel of Geneseo, IL, Michael (Becky) Wachtel of Lecona, IA, Timothy (Mona) Wachtel of Keithville, LA, Jeffery (Sandra) Wachtel of Hilton Head, SC; brother, Bill (Marilyn) Vandemore of Chesterfield, MO; sisters Mary Gustafson of Geneseo, IL, Cathy (Bill) Clancy of Geneva, IL; sister-in-law Sue Ann Vandemore of Geneseo, IL; 10 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Alloyisous and Margaret; husband, James; daughter, Nancy Sue Wachtel; daughter-in-law, Alana Wachtel; brothers, Mark and Jim Vandemore and brother-in-law, Glenn Gustafson.